Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., center, and other agency staff answered public questions about the Washington Bridge during a virtual community meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Screenshot)
The promised “day of reckoning” over the Washington Bridge has yet to arrive, but state officials finally faced a day — or night — of questioning during a virtual meeting Thursday.
The community forum hosted by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation comes seven days after an initial attempt drew sharp criticism from residents and officials, including Gov. Dan McKee, over the lack of opportunity for public input. In contrast to the initial, nine-minute presentation on Oct. 11, the 150-minute redo let the public ask questions and share feedback live, and ahead-of-time.
“I don’t think it was handled well and that’s why we’re going to sit here and answer all the questions that were put in,” McKee said of the last meeting. “Thanks to the people who are responding. Actually participating does help.”
More than 60 questions were answered during the meeting, which drew 200 attendees at its peak, McKee said, joining the meeting from his office at the Rhode Island State House.
Multiple questions about long-term costs, design, and scheduled reopening of the westbound bridge, which has been closed since December, were not answered with any specificity. McKee and RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. repeated the plans unveiled at an Oct. 15 press conference for a two-part solicitation to build a new bridge. Alviti took the meeting from RIDOT’s offices, flanked by a team of seven agency staffers positioned around a conference table.
Responses to the solicitation will determine final price, schedule and design of the new bridge, Alviti said. Officials have already acknowledged the $368 million price tag attached to the bridge rebuild in May is outdated and may be too low now.
Under the most recently-revised state timeline, bridge demolition, including the beams and piers below the thoroughfare, will be completed by December 2025. A contract for the rebuild is expected to be awarded in June 2025, with preparations beginning alongside the remaining demolition work.
I don’t think it was handled well and that’s why we’re going to sit here and answer all the questions that were put in.
– Gov. Dan McKee
“If they are rushed, they may give us a price proposal that’s either erroneous or too high, we’re giving them the amount of time they told us during the RFI process … to get us the absolute best proposals they can,” Alviti said.
The state inked a nearly-$50 million agreement with Warwick-based Aetna Bridge Co. for the demolition work in June. However, its first attempt to find a contractor to build a new bridge drew no bidders, prompting the state to seek feedback from experts on ways to improve the solicitation. Responses to that request for information have not been made public.
McKee pledged to release the responses “as soon as we can.”
Residents’ questions about the state’s lawsuit against 13 contractors who previously worked on or inspected the westbound bridge were also left hanging. Alviti deferred to the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, which is leading the lawsuit on behalf of the state, but did not have representation at the meeting.
“I know it’s frustrating to hear that as an answer, but the governor hired a capable litigation team to sort questions of accountability and liability,” Alviti said.
No substantial documents have been submitted since the lawsuit was filed in Providence County Superior Court in August. The defendants have until Oct. 31 to respond, Brian Hodge, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, said in an email on Wednesday.
Gov. Dan McKee answered questions about the Washington Bridge during a virtual community meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Screenshot)
Three more nights of jackhammers
There’s a glimmer of hope for residents in Providence’s Fox Point neighborhood fed up with the noise, vibrations and dust disturbing them since bridge demolition began in early September — though it was paused for several weeks to preserve legal evidence.
Only three days of intensive, overnight jackhammering remain, scheduled for Oct. 20-22.
“The good news is the worst is over,” Alviti said.
The overnight work, while disruptive to local neighbors, was the best option to avoid daytime gridlock on the temporary bypass lanes set up on the adjacent, eastern bridge, Alviti said.
Alviti also sought to assuage concerns over dust and vibrations emanating from the job site, pointing to various “controls” put in place to minimize the impact for the surrounding neighborhood, along with monitoring devices to ensure noise and vibration levels do not exceed federal regulatory standards.
Lanre Akinsiku, a Fox Point resident, alleged otherwise. Speaking to officials during the meeting, Akinsu described visible dust on his property, and noise that “easily reached 70 to 80 decibels a night.
Kimberly Crawford, a psychotherapist, wrote that the noise and shaking from demolition made it difficult to conduct therapy sessions from her office near the job site, especially when working with soldiers and clients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“If there is something we can do, we can do it,” McKee said. “We’re taking some advice when we can.”
The governor also offered to visit the homes and businesses of affected residents with noise and dust complaints.
Alviti and McKee maintained calm, measured tones even when the occasional faceless public commenter grew heated.
Providence City Councilor John Goncalves, who represents the Fox Point neighborhood, blasted the initial community meeting, calling it “a complete joke” in a post on X. Goncalves on Thursday expressed appreciation for the state’s willingness to hold a do-over.
“I am pleased with the outcome of tonight’s DOT meeting and the two-hour meeting to address the concerns of our community,” Goncalves said in a text Thursday night. “We thank Governor McKee and Director Alviti as we continue working together to find solutions to address concerns that benefit both the community and the ongoing project. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making tonight’s meeting productive.”
Rosa Medeiros, a community resident, expressed similar sentiments during the meeting.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation and noninformation, and I am happy to hear it’s being communicated now in an effective manner,” Medeiros said.
An anonymous commenter focused written critique on the backdrop behind McKee.
“The United States Flag over the Governor’s right shoulder should be oriented in the same direction as the one over his left shoulder,” the commenter wrote.
The state will continue to take questions, and post responses and other updates, on its dedicated website for the bridge project.
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