East Providence City Council President urges McKee to declare State of Emergency for Washington Bridge

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — East Providence City Council President Bob Rodericks has released a letter he sent to Gov. Dan McKee urging the governor to declare a State of Emergency for the continuing Washington Bridge closure.

The release of the letter comes a day after the state was sent an order by the U.S. Department of Justice that requested documents on the bridge dating back a decade.

In the letter, Rodericks said that East Providence is impacted by the closure the most of any community in the state.

“Our police and fire departments are stretched to their limits,” he said. “The necessary repairs or possible bridge replacement will evidently take much more time than originally anticipated.”

He continues by saying that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation may not have the resources to properly deal with the situation, and that federal assistance may be required.

“Possibly the US Army Corps of Engineers can expedite the bridge repairs alongside our RIDOT,” the letter reads. “The Rhode Island National Guard could also help with traffic control to assist with local East Providence Police efforts during peak hours of gridlock. The State needs to pause all non-emergency DOT projects throughout R.I. and concentrate all its resources into fixing the Washington Bridge.”

Rodericks added that that he hoped an emergency declaration would help the city be reimbursed for the “crisis,” and possibly receive stipends for impacted neighborhoods and businesses.

“I’m asking the state to reimburse East Providence for all expenses tied to this problem,” he said. “Our streets are being worn down as many trucks and motorists in the East Bay and nearby Massachusetts are cutting through our side streets and neighborhoods looking for a bypass solution.”

Rodericks also released this statement to ABC 6:

“My intent is not to place blame at this time, but to work together to fix this problem swiftly.  More than a ‘commuter crisis,’ East Providence businesses and residents are struggling everyday within our borders.  I receive calls daily from people who can’t get out of their driveways.  Motorists from throughout the region are cutting through our neighborhoods looking for a bypass solution.  I know state officials want to solve this ASAP.  I advocate pausing all non-emergency roadway projects until we get a better handle on the Washington Bridge.”