Rhode Island ordered to repay $3.1 million in federal highway funds

The Associated Press

3/6/2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — 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.