The impact of the Interstate 195 bridge closure cannot be overstated. It suffocates areas of Providence and East Providence, both economically and functionally, for months.

It chokes off thousands of East Bay residents from reasonable access to their jobs, their private schools, even their medical providers. It delays all forms of transportation, deliveries, buses and commerce that would typically move from one side of Rhode Island to the other.

Though on a map this looks like a Providence-East Providence emergency, it is actually a statewide crisis, with acute impact on the East Bay. The ripples will be felt far and wide, with lives, businesses and many systems dramatically altered. All levels of state government need to understand this and react accordingly — and swiftly.

Rhode Island should consider the following …

• Suspend tolls on the Newport Bridge, removing that deterrent for motorists forced to drive “the long way around” to get to and from the East Bay.
• Delay any non-essential road projects throughout the region; drivers facing arduous delays in the metro-Providence area don’t need added delays elsewhere in their travels.
• Redirect RIPTA buses to reflect the new reality. If buses cannot get into and out of Providence in a timely fashion, don’t try. Re-draw routes and schedules so commuters can rely on consistent service for the next few months.
• Launch a West Bay-East Bay ferry service, with as many trips and as many ferries as can be made available. Get as creative as necessary, providing electric scooters, bikes, rideshare programs and shuttles for commuters when they land.
• Get the smartest civic engineers available to consider temporary improvements to the East Providence system of roads. With paralyzing gridlock likely, perhaps two-way roads could become one-way, intersections can be reconfigured … consider anything possible to help traffic move most efficiently.
• Gather emergency funds to support businesses that are severely impacted with direct and demonstrable losses. There will be many.

This is a quick list of suggestions, generated in the first hours after the crisis began. More are welcomed.

This is a crisis for the East Bay. Hopefully Rhode Island leaders understand this and do anything and everything possible to support this region.