Several of the state’s leading politicians, including Gov. Lincoln Chafee, were on hand Friday afternoon, Nov. 30, for the official reopening of 10 Mile Bridges on North Broadway in East Providence.

But it was the speed with which the project was completed – one year ahead of schedule – that got most of the attention.

Everyone credited the teamwork of the RI Department of Transportation, D’Ambra Construction, and the Agawam Hunt Club and the cooperation and patience of the neighborhood for making the early finish possible.

RIDOT Deputy Director Philip Kydd particularly lauded the “accelerated construction” methods used by the contractor and RIDOT and the nearby country club’s donation of land for use by the contractor as key elements of the quick turnaround of the bridges.

A two-year construction schedule soon became one year, Kydd said. The bridges reopened to traffic about two weeks ago.

Gov. Chafee pointed to the bridge project as a “good example” of the flexibility of RIDOT and its partners to work together for a much quicker reopening. But the key to all bridge projects statewide, he said, is regular maintenance and upkeep so projects don’t turn into lengthy closures.

East Providence’s outgoing mayor, Bruce Rogers, applauded the patience of the businesses and neighbors with the increased traffic when the bridge was closed – traffic they were not used to. And he praised RIDOT’s reaction to neighbors’ concerns, which were shared at a meeting in the community before construction began.