McKee to Hold on Press Conf on Washington Bridge, Has Refused to Answer Questions About Contractor

McKee to Hold on Press Conf on Washington Bridge, Has Refused to Answer Questions About Contractor

On Thursday, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee will be holding a press conference along with Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti, the Governor's Senior Deputy Chief of Staff Joseph Almond, and a representative from McNary, Bergeron & Johannesen.

The briefing will discuss a “structural analysis of the Washington Bridge.”

GoLocal will be covering the “briefing” live at 3:00 PM on Thursday.

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It is now going into the fourth month of the bridge failure and closure which continues to adversely impact Rhode Islanders and businesses. 

 

McKee Refuses to Answer Questions

Over the past week, GoLocal has unveiled a series of stories regarding the lead contractor on the Washington Bridge —  Barletta Heavy Division.

The CEO of the company, Vincent Barletta, is immersed in a series of legal controversies as uncovered by GoLocal.

In May of 2023, Vincent Barletta was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, as well as one other related charge.

According to court documents, the Commonwealth is now prosecuting that incident.

Each of those charges is a misdemeanor with a penalty of no greater than 100 days of incarceration.

Then, in February of 2024, Vincent Barletta was arrested by Needham Police for driving under the influence and other charges, according to police documents. 

Sergeant Brian Gallerani wrote in his report, “I asked him if he was aware that he had passed out at the wheel in traffic.  He responded that he passes through Needham all the time on his way home from his office. When I clarified to him that he was passed out not passing through he responded he was not aware that he had been."

In total, Barletta is facing six different charges for the two incidents.

In a separate civil matter, Vincent Barletta is also entangled in ongoing civil litigation with his brother Timothy Barletta for the sale of certain assets valued at $60 million.

Barletta's company is also under indictment in Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Attorney General for environmental crimes.

Under Peter Alviti, Barletta’s company has been awarded many of Rhode Island’s top transportation contracts, including the 6/10 project, the construction of the Henderson Bridge, the construction of the Pawtucket-Central Fall Transit Center as well as the Washington Bridge. Some of these contracts have been to consortiums in which Barletta is the lead.

The total contracts for those projects exceed $600 million.

Barletta’s office refused to comment on the charges in Massachusetts.

McKee has repeatedly defended Barletta receiving the contracts to repair the bridge.