The cost of keeping tow trucks on constant standby at the Washington Bridge has soared to $6.8 million, more than triple the original budget
The R.I. Department of Transportation budgeted $2 million for the emergency towing services just after the westbound I-195 bridge was abruptly closed in December 2023. But monthly progress reports reviewed by Target 12 show the state blew past the $2 million mark last September, and costs have continued to climb since then. They've spend nearly 7 million so far.
RIDOT has maintained at least two tow trucks on 24-hour standby at the bridge since the closure in order to quickly clear crashes and breakdowns. The state currently contracts with five private towing companies for the service, with two trucks positioned at all times and a third operating from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The state has been spending an average of $440,000 a month on towing for the last year, though the amount varies widely. RIDOT says the trucks cleared 264 incidents during the 12 months ended May 31, putting the average cost at about $21,000 per incident.
Charles St. Martin, a spokesperson for RIDOT, said the original $2 million budget for towing was established when officials believed the standby tow trucks would be a short-term measure. But they soon discovered that the westbound bridge would have to be fully replaced.
The towing costs represent just one piece of the spending related to the Washington Bridge crisis, which is now expected to cost state and federal taxpayers $571 million when demolition, reconstruction and emergency expenses are added up. The new westbound bridge — which carried more than 96,000 vehicles daily before its closure — is not expected to open until November 2028.
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