Council President Matos Calls on DOT and DEM to Address "Preventable Danger" at 6/10 Project

Council President Matos Calls on DOT and DEM to Address "Preventable Danger" at 6/10 Project

Providence City Council President Sabina Matos issued a statement on Wednesday after a GoLocal report unveiled allegations by a top union official of contaminated soil being dumped in Olneyville -- part of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation's (RIDOT) 6/10 construction project -- which has a cost of $410 million.

Matos said in the statement, "I am deeply concerned about the recent allegations of contaminated soil being used in the construction of the 6-10 Connector in Olneyville. This breach of public health and safety puts workers, public safety officials, and residents at risk. As the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified; socio-economic status and health outcomes are deeply connected." 

On Tuesday, GoLocal exclusively reported that top union official James White alleges that one of the main contractors on the project -- Barletta Engineering of Canton, MA -- had transported material to the site that White said is contaminated. White has provided RIDOT and Environmental Management officials with the testing results that showed elevated levels of pollutants. 

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On Wednesday, RIDOT refused to allow an independent environmental firm contracted by GoLocalProv.com to take soil samples.

"Any development or construction projects should be conducted with utmost attention to public health and safety. Actions taken to bring truckloads of contaminated soil into Olneyville have done the opposite, and have endangered a neighborhood that is already at-risk. I am calling on RIDOT and RIDEM to remedy this public health hazard as quickly as possible and that they work towards addressing this type of preventable danger on all future projects," added Matos.

"The City of Providence will not accept anything less than the highest standards of professionalism and care from any party looking to perform, or performing work, in our neighborhoods," she added.

The Rhode Island State Police opened a criminal investigation on Tuesday.