Bumper Sticker Mocking Washington Bridge Debacle is Available at East Providence Market

Bumper Sticker Mocking Washington Bridge Debacle is Available at East Providence Market

The jokes about the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Washington Bridge failure would be funny, if the implications were not so serious. 

This week, McShortagee’s Market in Riverside announced it is selling “This Car Crossed the Washington Bridge” bumper stickers, the brilliant brainchild of East Providence resident Kevin Lewis. 

If they look familiar, they are. 

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"This Car Climbed Mt. Washingon" bumper stickers have been popular among New England vehicles for years for ascending the legendary New Hampshire peak, and are part of regional lore.

And for good reason. 

According to "Mt. Washington Auto Road:"

"Since the late 1800s, reaching the summit of Mount Washington has been on the must-do list for most travelers to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. To this day, the combination of amazing scenery, world-famous weather conditions, and adventures for all abilities and ages make it a highlight for visitors to the region, and locals alike. The mountain is steeped in history, and central to that is the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road."

The Mt. Washington Auto Road website continues:

"The 7.6-mile Mt. Washington Auto Road is America’s oldest and continuously-operating attraction. It was first opened to the public in 1861 as the Mt. Washington Carriage Road, in a time when guests made the four-hour journey to the summit in specially built, horse-drawn Abbot Downing Mountain Wagons. As a family-owned business, the company takes great pride in its progression through the years, and has preserved that history for all their current-day guests to enjoy."

In April, GoLocal was first to report on McShortagee's opening in Riverside, reporting that residents had been in the lurch with the failure of the Washington Bridge.

Store owner William Hurley said “he has a lot of friends in the restaurant business who are hurting.” 

“For them, they can’t rely just on East Providence business,” he said. “There is such a huge push to buy local, stay in East Providence.

Following the emergency closure of the Westbound Washington Bridge in December 2023, multiple businesses have closed. 

Earlier in August, GoLocal reported that Bally's President told investors that revenue was down due to the impact of the RIDOT Washington Bridge failure

Read that here.

 

 

PHOTO: CC 3.0/Sujit Jumar