Washington Bridge experiences holiday traffic for the first time since closure

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — AAA reported nearly 44 million people are expected to travel more than 50 miles during Memorial Day weekend.

Some local residents told ABC 6 News they were staying put this holiday weekend to avoid the Washington Bridge and the traffic that comes with it.

“We didn’t plan any travel this year, but typically any long weekend travel is a nuisance,” Providence resident Brerna Ganjoo said.

The possibility of backups on the Washington Bridge is an added layer of stress for drivers, especially with holiday travel.

“We really have to rethink each time we have to cross that bridge or go to the other side,” added Ganjoo.

AAA said there is a 4% increase over last year’s number of travelers and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million.

“Seeing the kind of traffic, not just the foot traffic but the cars,” Foster resident Jason Preciphs said. “People are out and about. I think everyone is on a crunch to try and pack in all of the activity they can.”