“It's a Nightmare," Says Neighbor Impacted by Washington Bridge Overnight Demo

“It's a Nightmare," Says Neighbor Impacted by Washington Bridge Overnight Demo

Lanre Akinsiku and his eight-month-pregnant wife were rocked by the sound of the demolition of the Washington Bridge on Sunday night, and it continued on Monday night. "It's a nightmare," he said.

It is scheduled to happen five nights a week for weeks.

The noise, he said, is a non-stop rapid-fire bam, bam, bam. PLAY VIDEO ABOVE

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Akinsiku lives in the Fox Point neighborhood about 100 yards from the failed bridge. The Brown professor told GoLocal that his family and his neighbor were caught off guard by the brutal sounds that started on Sunday night before 10 p.m.

“We were not ready for it. Three hydraulic demolition hammers started up at about 9:30 p.m. Our house started shaking, and we measured about 85 decibels on our iPhone app,” said Akinsiku.

He adds, “It was miserable. It went on until about 4 AM and pounded constantly, constantly.”

Akinsiku said that he and his neighbors were given no warning.

“I've actually been reaching out to our State Rep. [Chris] Blazejewski since mid-August to try to get a schedule and figure out what was going on.  No indication of a schedule from him or RIDOT. I also reached out to our council member John Goncalves, and we didn't get any answers from him, so all we got was the press release on Friday afternoon," said Akinsiku.

"I'm pretty horrified. I think that not involving the community in the process of understanding the schedule; why they're doing it at night instead of during the day; why they're doing it from 9 PM to 6 AM in the morning -- this is wrong and unethical and it's disservice to the community," he said.

 

RIDOT Letter Contained Promises to the Neighborhood

In a letter from RIDOT official Lori Fisette to Blazejewski dated August 22, 2024, it was stated, "The Contractor is required to comply with the Department's Noise Abatement Policy. The loudest noise and concussive generating activity is expected to be the use of excavator-mounted hydraulic demolition hammers. As best as possible, we will schedule the use of this equipment during the daytime hours."

Further, RIDOT promised to include the public.

The letter stated:

Public Outreach:

Details about construction communication will be described in the Project Public Involvement Plan developed at the onset of the project and informed by community knowledge. Whether it be noise, dust, or concerns about traffic impacts. we recognize the possible impact to those living adjacent to the project. The contractor in coordination with the Department, will:

1. Coordinate meetings with stakeholders.
2. Host a meeting for interested neighborhood groups, businesses, professional groups, and other organizations.

Topics to be covered can include updates to milestones of contract work and any major traffic changes/impacts planned
Provide graphics/visual aids, handouts as applicable
Meetings can be hosted virtually

Residents of the street told GoLocal that none of these things took place, and if they did, they were not notified.

Blazejewski did not respond to calls or text messages from GoLocal on Monday night.

The media was notified of the bridge demolition schedule on Friday in a RIDOT press release. 

RIDOT claimed in their statement that the closures at Gano Street are scheduled to take place Sunday-Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and last approximately two to three weeks.

During the closures, RIDOT will be performing overhead demolition of bridge parapets and the concrete deck.

And RIDOT claims that at a future date later in late September/early October, RIDOT will conduct a weekend-long closure of Gano Street for beam removal.

That closure will be announced "in advance" of when scheduled.

When Gano Street is closed, drivers will follow a signed detour using India Street, Wickenden Street and South Main and South Water streets. The on-ramp to I-195 West at Gano Street will remain open.

 

Frustration in Fox Pont

On Monday night, the pounding began even earlier. The pounding started at about 9:15 PM.

GoLocal video taped the construction from Wade Street — a side street off of Wickenden. SEE VIDEO ABOVE

Debra Booth, whose home was built in Fox Point in 2005, said she while expects noise from the highway, the overnight pounding is unfair to residents. She said it is impossible to sleep.

Another neighbor, Maria Francisco, said this is the worst thing that has ever impacted Fox Point.

Francisco, who says she has lived in her home for more than 40 years, said it is impossible to sleep.

“Why don’t they do [the demolition] during the day?” she asked.

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: As GoLocal has chronicled, many of RIDOT's claims about the Washington Bridge during the past ten months have proven to be false.