| March 6, 2008 Rhode Island to repay $3.1 million for Iway safety issues
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The federal government has ordered Rhode
Island to repay $3.1 million because it says the state
transportation department failed to adequately test concrete used
on the Iway project.
The state was cited for failing to test random samples of the
concrete and enforce penalties on contractors who supplied
substandard concrete.
Department of Transportation director Jerome Williams told The
Providence Journal the concrete is strong enough to carry the
weight of traffic and there is no safety issue for motorists.
"All of the concrete is structurally adequate, and fulfills the
needs of the bridge to federal standards," Williams said in a
statement. "Public safety is not compromised."
Williams acknowledged Wednesday that the agency failed to meet
federal standards, but said the problems occurred in 2005, 2006 and
part of 2007 and have since been corrected.
Williams said the department might have to delay certain highway
projects in order to repay the Federal Highway Administration.
The FHWA is seeking reimbursement for more than 3,000 cubic
yards of concrete supplied under four contracts, including the
contract for the arch bridge carrying some traffic across the
Providence River.
The $610 million I-195 relocation project was mostly paid for
with federal highway funds.
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Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights
