On Thursday, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation signed a change order with Aetna Bridge for $38,410,000.

Between the original demolition contract award to Aetna in June for $45,777,000.

Combined, Aetna has now been awarded $84,187,000.

The demolition of the bridge was budgeted for $40 million by RIDOT.

In the initial Aetna demolition contract, the competitor for the contract was Manafort, a major national firm with deep experience and a track record in Rhode Island.

The two firms had identical scores for firm experience and staff qualifications — with both Aetna and Manafort scoring 85 in each category.

But Aetna won again despite the higher price — $45,777,000.00 to Manafort’s bid of $43,849,500.00.

Aetna won the bid according to the scoring. Aetna’s schedule for the demolition was scored 97 and Manafort a 55. RIDOT wrote in its evaluation, “The Apparent Best Value Respondent, as determined by the above evaluation as specified in the RFP documents, is Aetna Bridge with an overall combined total score of 94.0 (out of 100 maximum). Therefore, we recommend award preparation that will commence outlining all contractual requirements and accepting pricing.”

The politically connected firm's executives have donated tens of thousands to top Rhode Island politicians, including Governor Dan McKee, former Governor Gina Raimondo, Speaker Joe Shekarchi, and Democratic candidate Helena Foulkes.

Aetna Bridge executives have donated $25,541 to Rhode Island politicians. McKee has received $5,200 from top executives at Aetna, but that pales compared to the $7,000 Helena Foulkes received. Foulkes lost to McKee in the 2022 Democratic primary and is running again in 2026.

Shekarchi also collected from Aetna executives — $1,600.

Former Governor Raimondo received another $1,500.

Aetna Bridge is actually named twice in the state’s lawsuit — individually and for its role in a joint venture.

The state claims the company is guilty of negligence and breach of contract.

When McKee was asked about why the state was continuing to award contracts to a company that the state was alleging was responsible in part for the failure of the bridge, he refused to answer the question.

McKee's office said in an email to GoLocal, "While litigation is pending, we are referring all questions about the lawsuit and the accompanying investigation to the attorneys."

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