Drivers Face Multi-Hour Delays, McKee-Alviti Scramble, Businesses Close, Holiday Parties Canceled
GoLocalProv News Team
Drivers Face Multi-Hour Delays, McKee-Alviti Scramble, Businesses Close, Holiday Parties Canceled
Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) director Peter Alviti said that he was made aware of the problem on Friday and tried to clarify multiple claims. He had previously said the bridge had been inspected in July, today he said the last inspection was in August.
He said the issue had been identified by a RIDOT employee, but he did not know the man’s name.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTens of thousands of Rhode Island drivers were trapped in gridlock for hours due to the shutdown.
The impact of the RIDOT failure is rippling through businesses, non-profits, and even causing the cancelation of holiday parties.
The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island announced, “Unfortunately, we will be canceling our Holiday Party due to the unexpected closure of the Washington Bridge connecting East Providence and Providence.”
The organization “is dedicated to increasing awareness of brain injury and its consequences, providing education to prevent brain injury, and enhancing the quality of life for those affected by brain injury.”
Other youth and community events were canceled or postponed.
The sudden closure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge has forced the closure of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School’s Carter Center Campus in East Providence, the organization announced on Tuesday. Private lesson students will be able to access their lessons remotely, but evening ensemble rehearsals are canceled.
“Traffic was at a standstill in East Providence this morning,” said Executive Director David Beauchesne. “We can’t ask the 350-plus students, faculty, staff, and partners who were scheduled to be in the building tonight to face that kind of gridlock. We’ll be looking at an empty parking lot tonight, when you usually can’t find a spot.”
The Philharmonic will assess matters day-by-day, but hopes to at the very least have somewhat normal operations this coming Saturday, when over 500 students and faculty are scheduled to attend lessons, classes, rehearsals and recitals," said the group.
The Gordon School Had Dozens of Parents Work at School
“Our senior leadership has been in constant contact since yesterday's announcement and immediately opened lines of communication with parents, suggesting alternative routes, sharing news, and supporting parents who want to organize a biking group for Wednesday," said Noni Thomas Lopez, Head of School, Gordon School.
"The many accommodations we have made include being flexible with pick-up and drop-off and opening up spaces on our campus where parents are welcome to work remotely (used by fifty parents today). This afternoon, our dining hall team kindly packed to-go snack bags for children taking the bus home," added Lopez.
East Providence Schools Move to Distance Learning
East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva announced that the city’s schools will move to distance learning on Wednesday.
This story was first published 12/12/23 5:34 PM