Providence community meeting to address impact of Washington Bridge closure

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Tuesday there will be a traffic lane shift on the Washington Bridge.  

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation says the lane shift will happen in the early hours of morning tomorrow.  

RIDOT crews are moving the crossover point to the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge.  

Officials are reminding drivers to stay alert and stay in their lane.  

Monday, a community meeting in Providence will talk about the impact of the Washington Bridge closure and some of the changes the capital city is making to ease that burden.  

Tonight’s meeting focuses on three things, giving community members a platform to talk about how the bridge has impacted them, looking at options for local businesses, and talking about solutions to the ongoing traffic issues in the city.  

That last topic has been the focus of a lot of community discussion in the past week.  

With dozens of community members rallying and speaking at the Providence City Council meeting last Thursday about the proposed closure of the South Water Street bike lane.  

Commuters say the removal is a major step back for city infrastructure and pedestrian safety. 

“They’re not thinking about what serves the community as a whole. You know, me being a future father, I think about the fact that my son would want to maybe ride his bike, ride his scooter on the bike lanes, and you know just enjoy the community,” said one community member.

“I think a lot of this opposition and people trying to remove these things is people that they aren’t thinking about the larger community as a whole.” 

The city council voted to oppose the mayor’s plan 10-0 with two members abstaining.  

But that resolution won’t stop the mayor from removing the bike lane, with a possible option of moving the lane onto the sidewalk.  

Another traffic change comes in a weight restriction on several Providence streets, including Gano and Angell Streets.  

Tonight’s meeting is set for 5:30 at Nathan Bishop Middle School and is open to the public.   

A spokesperson from Mayor Smiley’s office says they’ll continue to review short and long-term solutions to the ongoing Washington Bridge impacts.