Subscribe!
Washington Bridge, Day 3 UPDATES- with special advice for pregnant women in the East Bay
We begin with urgent information from the RI Department of Health, directed to pregnant women expecting delivery soon:
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is recommending that ambulances be used by pregnant people in the East Bay who are in labor and who, after consulting with their healthcare professional, need to get to a medical facility west of the Washington Bridge immediately. The Washington Bridge carries 195 between East Providence and Providence. People can contact an ambulance by calling 911.
Currently, emergency vehicles (including ambulances) can travel westbound on the bridge. Personal vehicles are not currently permitted to travel westbound on the Washington Bridge.
___
Washington Bridge updates
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has closed the west bound side of the Washington Bridge due to the finding of a critical failure of some bridge components. These particular components are part of the original Washington Bridge which was built in 1968. They were uncovered during the reconstruction of the Washington Bridge.
All the westbound lanes will be closed and traffic diverted to alternate routes.
Two eastbound lanes will be turned to westbound, so there will be minimum access with 2 lanes east and 2 lanes west.
An emergency one lane west has been opened for fire, police, rescue, and other emergency use, one vehicle at a time, with police oversight.
Depending on the severity of what RIDOT finds in its initial work, the repair could take three months or more. Director Peter Alviti said, “In the process of reconstructing the Washington Bridge, our consultants found urgent safety issues that could cause a critical deficiency on this side of the bridge. We are closing the westbound side until we can make it completely safe.”
RI DOT Camera Link – click on image for link to cameras – becoming familiar with this should help anticipate traffic:
Marked detour routes are:
Local traffic in East Providence: Take Exit 2 to Broadway. Follow detour signs to the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95. This is the preferred routes for trucks.
Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95.
The Washington Bridge carries 96,000 vehicles daily. The total construction cost for the Washington Bridge project is $78 million.
Unprecedented traffic jams are happening as Rhode Island has literally been cut in half with thousands of cars having to get around by side roads ill equipped for the challenge.
Newport Bridge has construction on it and Bristol, Barrington and Warren drivers using that have created unprecedented traffic jams – especially at commute times.
There has been discussion about suspending tolls, but there are no plans to do so – traffic has been happening at EZPass to avoid the $4 charge.
Today there will be brief, 5 to 10-minute traffic stoppages eastbound from 9:30AM – 4PM to unload sections of median barrier.
_
Employers are expected to allow those workers who can work from home to do so – or staggered hours for incoming and release. Schools will be announcing some changes for buses using that route daily. At least 3 private elementary and secondary schools are in the East Bay – PCD, Gordon, Bay View.
Schools:
East Providence schools were let out on a staggered basis on day 1; day 2 they were moved to virtual. Today they are back in session. Hosted athletic facilities will not take place. TODAY: Schools will open earlier by 15 minutes – and there will be staggered releases as on day one.
Bay View has let out for a sooner “winter break” and will not come back into session until January.
Gordon School is allowing parents to work remotely at the school, after dropping off their children.
LaSalle‘s East Bay resident students can “attend” remotely.
Emergency Services:
Emergency services access are the most critical concern, with Rhode Island Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center in Providence. Workarounds and agreements for nearby Massachusetts facilities may be in play such as Sturdy Memorial in Attleboro and the Southcoast Hospital systems. Lifeflight transportation for serious trauma and pregnant women going into labor are special concerns at this time.
Massachusetts hospitals – SouthCoast:
Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford are accepting patients that may be diverted from Rhode Island hospitals. Both hospitals are part of the SouthCoast Hospital group.
We reached out to Southcoast Hospital System and here is their statement: “Southcoast Health is committed to providing emergency care to all patients within the South Coast region, including those who are brought to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford by ambulance due to the closure of 195 West into Providence. We are working closely with Massachusetts and Rhode Island state officials as well as hospitals across the region to ensure patients have access to the care they need. We anticipate most emergency cases diverted away from Providence will go to Charlton Memorial, with trauma cases directed to the Level II Adult Trauma Center at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Help from our neighbor, Rep. Auchincloss in Washington:
Press Conferences to be held daily
Yesterday, led by the Governor, an update was provided at noon – and there are plans for daily live updates until the situation warrants less.
Photos of the bridge repair need are beginning to surface – steel pins are the biggest concern, where 5 of the 6 pins at the critical area have broken – RIDOT says this was not seen in the bridge’s last inspection over 3 months ago:
Day 2 press conference summary:
- Governor McKee joined East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva and East Providence Police Chief Christopher Francesconi to survey traffic conditions, identify areas that may require an adjustment in traffic patterns, and see firsthand where the State can provide additional support to reduce congestion.
- Governor McKee, Providence Mayor Smiley and Commerce Secretary Tanner met with businesses in Wayland Square to hear firsthand how the closure is impacting their operations and to offer support.
- RIDOT has made significant progress on getting two lanes open on the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge with the expectation of opening the bypass for use starting this weekend, well ahead of initial two-week projection. All barriers needed for this change are on site and installation has started. RIDOT also has created a dedicated web page for information about the closure at: www.ridot.net/WashingtonBridgeClosure.This website also has valuable information for commuters, including a wide range of suggested detours. All announcements will be posted here as well.
- RIDOT is also pursuing other strategies to move vehicles westbound, including possible temporary ferry service between Bristol and Providence. RIDOT has spoken with Interstate Navigation, SeaStreak and Vineyard Fast Ferry – those conversations will continue and additional details will be shared.
- To assist businesses disrupted by closure, RIDOT has also designated a liaison to work daily with them and the team at Commerce.
- RIEMA is deploying portable camera systems to East Providence to assist with traffic management concerns. They will also organize daily calls with local elected officials and state agency directors to provide status updates and coordinate solutions for concerns and issues.
- Rhode Island Commerce remains in constant contact with state, local, and federal officials sharing updated outreach efforts and information from businesses while also conveying updates to the chambers of commerce, trade associations, and community and business leaders. A team has been mobilized to address questions and concerns from businesses, conduct outreach, and work with them on available assistance. Our helpline 521-HELP is open, and a webpage has been created at commerceri.com/emergency-assistance with important information and resources.
Buses
RIPTA has over 14 routes being delayed and detoured – check their website for updates at: HERE. Note that buses may be put into use to take people from a planned FERRY from Bristol to Providence. An idea to have buses take groups of people met with caution about the weight of the buses.
Business Losses
RI SBA is encouraging businesses impacted businesses to apply for loans if they have had a business loss. If your business took in less this week than they did last week, then apply for an SBA Idle Loan.
Federal Hill Business Association said, “We’re in trouble” – talking about loss of business on the hill.
Wayland Square Business group – businesses say their stores are “empty” – the Mayor, Governor and others toured and went business to business to talk to owners.
CommerceRI & Central RI Chamber of Commerce offered information and a process to compile business losses (year to year loss) so claims can be made for federal reimbursement – see info here:
Politics
In a statement from Rep. Chippendale (R), the Rhode Island House Minority Leader: “I urge the Speaker to empower House Oversight to fully explore all interactions between RI DOT and the contractors who constructed, improved and maintained that roadway and determine how this could have happened. We should further investigate the parameters under which routine inspections are done on our infrastructure assets. If we have unqualified people performing these inspections – which I think is the only inference we can draw from what we know at this time, then we need to address that immediately.
Root Causes
The Governor has made it clear that we must be in forward-looking action with an “all hands on deck” approach to solving the problems that will happen over the next few months. Questions from one reporter about RIDOT blame and action were summarily shut down, with many press questioning that. “You can take it out on me later,” said Gov. McKee.
VHB Sub-Contractor – VHB, a local company, was the sub-contractor on the inspections. We asked for a statement from them and received this response: “Thanks for reaching out. We’re directing all inquires to our client, RIDOT“.
In the spring of 2021, fixes to the Washington Bridge were planned and detailed in a story done by RINewsToday – here is that section:
RIDOT – Peter Alviti TODAY maintains that it was most likely a catastrophic event or strain on the bridge which snapped one pin and then snapped them in a domino effect. Alviti first said 5 of 6 – now says as many as 8, with 6 or 7 failing.
Connecticut – 1983 – bridge collapse:
Two tractor-trailer trucks and two passenger cars plunged into the river. Three people were killed and three injured. After the event and until repairs could be implemented, the 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles that used I-95 on a daily basis were diverted to local streets. RI’s incident is involving 90-100,000 vehicles. Subsequent investigations of NTSB found the immediate cause of the Mianus River bridge collapse was two corroded support pins; however, years of deferred maintenance and systematic neglect were the true culprit.
This is a developing story and will be updated continuously – check back here and on our social media pages for information.