Eastbound Lane Near Completion on Washington Bridge
TL/DR –
Traffic congestion has worsened on the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge, despite efforts to alleviate it. The opening of a third lane did not occur in time for the morning commute, leading to backups for miles on I-95. The bridge is to be torn down and replaced over the next 2-3 years, and barriers will be shifted to make way for a third lane on the westbound side by April 22nd.
Continued Commuter Chaos on Washington Bridge despite Lane Expansion Efforts
Wednesday morning, contrary to expectations, the Washington Bridge failed to alleviate traffic congestion. Much to the frustration of the commuters, only one lane on the eastbound side was open until about 6:30 a.m.
Although the third lane on the bridge was opened around 7:20 a.m., easing the traffic flow, it did not help the commuters much as they had to deal with the congestion for most of the morning. RIDOT confirmed on social media that the third lane’s completion on the Washington Bridge is still in progress and urged commuters to plan accordingly.
Despite the efforts of RIDOT crews to open a third lane on the eastbound side, it did not happen in time for the morning rush hour. This resulted in extended backups on I-95 both northbound and southbound.
“The traffic remained the same despite the three lanes,” remarked Wally Coste, a Providence resident. Many commuters weren’t surprised at the increased congestion, even with RIDOT’s attempts to resolve the issue.
Following the westbound side shutdown in December, drivers have been dealing with this situation. They are now bracing for the next 2-3 years of disruption as the bridge is demolished and replaced.
With the lanes now narrower and the speed limit reduced to 40 mph over the bridge, the commute for Coste from Providence to East Providence took nearly an hour.
In preparation for a third westbound lane, crews are now shifting barriers. This process is projected to be completed by April 22nd. According to an RIDOT spokesperson, early-morning crashes were a contributing factor in delaying the crews’ work.
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