Eastbayri.com

EAST PROVIDENCE — It’s been slightly more than a month since the Rhode Island Department of Transportation shut down a bridge over the Ten Mile River on North Broadway and police have been active in making sure drivers are travelling along detour routes with caution.

According to a report assembled by Capt. Christopher J. Parella, a plan to monitor the effects of this closure on traffic in the area has resulted in 338 fines totalling $29,985 during the month after the bridge closure.

Detours have been in place on the bridge for vehicles weighing more than three tons since July 2011. In late Dec. 2011, the determination was made to close the bridge to all traffic after an inspection revealed significant deterioration. The bridge was officially closed on Friday, Dec. 30.

Though staistics were not immediately available on how these recent numbers stack up with those of a normal month, Police Chief Joseph Tavares said they do represent a “significant increase.” Chief Tavares also said monitoring traffic in the area isn’t something new for police. The police department first started looking at traffic patterns in the area, Chief Tavares said, after residents complained of truck traffic on roadways such as Roger Williams Avenue.

Chief Tavares said this latest effort further heightens attention to the situation.

The violations,by road, are as follows:

• Bourne Avenue – 3 violations. $480 in fines.

• Centre Street – 55 violations. $4,965 in fines.

• Elm Avenue – 31 violations. $2,420 in fines.

• Greenwood Avenue – 16 violations. $1,325 in fines.

• Newman Avenue – 4 violations. $255 in fines.

• North Broadway – 25 violations. $2,560 in fines.

• Roger Williams Avenue – 133 violations. $11,895 in fines.

• Wilson Avenue – 71 violations. $6,085 in fines.

According to Capt. Parella’s report, all of these fines have come without the expenditure of any “supplemental funds.” This has been accomplished, reads the report, by utilizing on duty personnel as well as assigning Traffic Unit, Community Policing and Radar Detail personnel to selected points throughout areas near the bridge. These efforts have been monitored by supervisory officers who ensure that minimum established man-hours are met daily.

“Since implementation of this plan, the calls and cocnerns have been reduced to a low and acceptable rate,” reads the report. It continues that it should also be noted, however, that while this large presence has been effective it is a “huge” amount of daily man hours and it is anticipated that as months go on the man-hours will systemically decrease to more long term sustainable levels.

Chief Tavares said the police department’s goal isn’t to issue tickets but sometimes, that is all some drivers understand. Chief Tavares said the hope is that the police department can pull back its presence at some point but will continue to monitor the situation and any complaints that come in from local residents.

The matter is scheduled to be discussed during tonight's city council meeting. To read the entire report, visit http://clerkshq.com/content/Attachments/EastProvidence-ri/120207_13.pdf?clientSite=EastProvidence-ri