East Providence officials, residents fret over Washington Bridge construction impact

Rescue services, school bussing concern city administrators

By Mike Rego
Posted 8/23/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — Chaotic inconvenience could be one of many apt ways to describe the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s closure earlier this week of a key exit off of Interstate 195 and …

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East Providence officials, residents fret over Washington Bridge construction impact

Rescue services, school bussing concern city administrators

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Chaotic inconvenience could be one of many apt ways to describe the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s closure earlier this week of a key exit off of Interstate 195 and the narrowing of westbound travel over the Washington Bridge as repairs to vital link between the East Bay and the rest of state began in earnest this week.

As part of the project, which is expected to last for at least a year, the number of lanes over the Washington Bridge have been reduced, the egress point to the East Side of Providence at Gano Street has been shuttered and the I-195 onramp at Taunton Avenue in East Providence has been torn down and replaced with a temporary structure.

Exasperated motorists from Barrington to Bristol to Seekonk to Rehoboth during the first week of the changes have experienced delays approaching an hour during both the morning and evening rushes. Drivers in East Providence, especially, seemingly have born the brunt of the changes, causing congestion on just about every major artery in the city from Wampanoag Trail to Broadway, Pawtucket, Taunton, Waterman and Warren Avenues.

The ancillary crossing at the Henderson Bridge has also been overwrought at times. And even those drivers attempting to head north through Pawtucket have also suffered from delays caused by like-minded motorists seeking alternative routes.

Services in East Providence, which are once again about to include bus transportation for a significant portion of the city’s 5,000-plus public school students as well as those who attend private schools there and elsewhere, have and will continue to be affected by the project.

“The traffic problem from 195 has created a delayed transport time for our rescues,” said East Providence Fire Chief Oscar Elmasian. “And it’s created a delayed response time for our companies due to drivers seeking alternate routes in the center of the city. I have also received complaints via phone from residents who live off of Taunton avenue in close proximity from city hall.”

With the start of school set in East Providence and other places set for Tuesday, Aug. 28, Superintendent of School Kathryn Crowley said her administration is taking the matter “awfully serious.” Her concerns center around getting students into classrooms on time each morning.

The supertintendent continued, “We will monitor the situation Tuesday through Friday. We’re working with the police department. They’ll be looking for trouble spots.”

As of Thursday evening, Aug. 23, Superintendent Crowley said neither the DOT nor the governor’s office has signaled any adjustments to the project are in the offing.

The superintendent added, noting the Washington Bridge construction schedule is anticipated to last into the fall of 2019, “I cannot have kids late for school for 18 months.”

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.