McKee Admin Claims It Will Hire Firm to Review RIDOT Bridge Failure - Promises “Independence”

McKee Admin Claims It Will Hire Firm to Review RIDOT Bridge Failure - Promises “Independence”

Last Wednesday, Governor Dan McKee appeared at a press event with Providence Mayor Brett Smiley in Wayland Square and refused to answer GoLocalProv News Editor Kate Nagle’s questions about an independent review of the failure of the Washington Bridge.

The failure has adversely impacted hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders, causing schools and businesses to shut down.

McKee appeared to be frustrated by the question. SEE VIDEO BELOW

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"I am going to hold off on answering your question," said McKee. "We are here to talk about small businesses.”

 

Five Days Later

Now, five days later, the McKee administration shifted and announced that it would seek an independent review.

"At the direction of Governor McKee, the Department of Administration will procure a contractor to provide independent oversight and review of the Washington Bridge forensic analysis for the Department of Transportation," the Department of Administration said in a statement Monday.

In a phone call Monday night, the McKee administration confirmed that the Governor was committed to hiring a national firm to ensure independence.