PROVIDENCE – An excavator used in the ongoing work to demolish the westbound half of the Washington Bridge connecting Providence and East Providence leaked hydraulic fluid into the Seekonk River on Thursday afternoon, officials said.

The hydraulic line of an excavator being used in the Washington Bridge demolition experienced an accidental fluid leak on Thursday afternoon, according to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT).

An investigation is underway after an accidental leak caused hydraulic fluid to spill into the Seekonk River near the Washington Bridge demolition site.

An accidental hydraulic fluid leak caused work on the Washington Bridge to briefly shut down Thursday. Officials said workers shut down the equipment and used a spill kit to clean the fluid from the barge's deck.