East Providence mayor to meet with city officials on traffic congestion amid Washington Bridge work

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva will meet with city officials on Friday to address traffic congestion during the Washington bridge construction project.

The mayor said in a social media post that he will speak with Police Chief Christopher Francesconi and the director of the Department of Public Works.

“Despite all of our efforts the morning and evening rush hour traffic congestion is still very frustrating,” he said in the post. “I have dealt with and felt the same frustration.”

DaSilva said he empathizes with people who have been getting stuck in traffic during the morning and evening commute in the area of the Henderson Bridge and the Broadway and Pawtucket Avenue on-ramps to Route I-195 west.

Traffic has been an issue as the Warren Avenue, Veterans Memorial Parkway, and Taunton Avenue on-ramps to I-195 west have been closed as the state works to fix the Washington Bridge.

DaSilva said signs were added to Warren Avenue and Broadway to remind drivers not to block the intersection. Police have also been assigned to the intersection to help with the flow of traffic.

Westbound traffic on the Washington Bridge suddenly closed in December after the department found “urgent safety issues that could cause a critical deficiency.”

Officials initially said the timeline for repairs was between two to three months at the earliest.