Oversight committee session to address withheld 2024 forensic report on Washington Bridge

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island state senators and representatives will meet in a State House joint oversight committee session Thursday at 2 p.m. to discuss officials’ response to the state of the Washington Bridge.

The session was prompted by a September revelation that an April 2024 forensic audit report on the bridge’s condition was withheld by Governor Dan McKee’s office and other officials.

The oversight meeting was announced in October by House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson.

Zachary Cunha, the former Rhode Island U.S. Attorney, was brought in to investigate state leaders’ response.

House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale has asked Rhode Island residents to weigh in, asking voters to submit questions for the hearing.

McKee said in September that he wanted to make the report public, but was advised by the Attorney General’s office and other legal counsel to withhold the document.

“I commissioned the report, I was willing to release the report,” said McKee said. “I was instructed by our attorneys and the attorneys in the (attorney general’s) office not to release the report.”

The westbound side of the Washington Bridge was shut down in December of 2023 due to a detection of structural failings.

Further inspection of the bridge revealed that the westbound side needed to be demolished and replaced.