Today marks three months since Washington Bridge closure
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Monday marks three months since the Washington Bridge westbound lane closure and the beginning of the commuter crisis it created.
The closure has triggered massive controversy among commuters and business owners alike as the Rhode Island Department of Transportation has continued to evaluate the bridge and answering the ultimate question: Repair or replace?
According to RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, the answer is coming soon.
In an appearance on the News with Gene Valicenti on 99.7 WPRO Thursday, Alviti stated “We’re getting close” on the final decision on the bridge that will be the difference between a months or years-long process to get Rhode Islanders’ commutes back to normal.
“I expect over the next week or so, their work will be complete, they will report on that to me and the governor and we hope to very soon to giving them the go ahead to begin the work to take down the parts of the bridge that need to come down and rebuild a new bridge there,” said Alviti Thursday.
What they report will lead to either a moderate sigh of relief, or a massive collective groan from travelers who rely on the bridge for their daily commute.
The controversy began on December 11 when critical components of the bridge were found to be in a state of disrepair, with several steel supports rods sheared or damaged on the bridge’s westbound side.
The traffic backup immediately followed with RIDOT creating two bypass lanes on the eastbound side of the bridge, effectively halving the roadway to accommodate the same amount of traffic.
The frustration from commuters was apparent from the beginning.
“I have a VA appointment at one-o-clock, I’m coming from Cape Cod,” Gary Lewis told ABC6 News from his car in traffic on December 12.
“I had to call ahead of time to let them know I was going to be late, I didn’t think it was going to be this bad. They close at 4:30, so it looks like I’m going to reschedule, but it was horrific,” said Lewis.
RIDOT immediately brought in an outside contractor to oversee the forensic analysis of the bridge, aimed at bringing an independent voice to process.
The federal government weighed in on the bridge in January, when Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee released documents from United States Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General that requested documentation on the closure.
An in-person visit from the federal government followed a few weeks later, when Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt visited Rhode Island on to tour the Washington Bridge in February 5.
“I think that’s what one of our bridge experts will be looking at — to take down a structure and repair and keep things as minimally impacted — you’re looking at year or two but that’s something we’ll be closely monitoring, if that’s the way we go.”
The calls for answers and action came from as far away as Washington, but strong voices in local governments could be heard as well.
Among them were East Providence City Council President Bob Rodericks, who called on McKee to declare a state of emergency in late January.
“Our police and fire departments are stretched to their limits,” said Rodericks. “The necessary repairs or possible bridge replacement will evidently take much more time than originally anticipated.”
“If they’re talking about one or two years, we really need to start looking at that and asking the state for assistance,” said City Council Vice President Frank Rego during the meeting. “Businesses are being hurt. They’re being strangled.”
The call for the declaration was dismissed by East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva.
“If declaring an emergency were to bring additional resources to this issue, additional resources to the city, additional resources to the state, I think that would of happened already,” said DaSilva.
The Rhode Island State House demanded some accountability as well, when Rhode Island House Majority Whip Katherine Kazarian introduced legislation that would require RIDOT to produce a monthly public report on the status of the bridge.
“Aside from the obvious stress and inconvenience that this bridge closure has caused for so many of our residents, the lack of clear information regarding this significant problem has been particularly frustrating for so many people,” Kazarian said.
“Frustrating” has been the key word in the Washington Bridge closure, from commuters, to local businesses on through the officials tasked with fixing it.
But will that frustration drag on for months (repair) or for years (replace)?
That’s the final answer that all of Rhode Island is waiting on.