Feds investigating Washington Bridge closure – Rhode Island Current

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General have opened an inquiry to review the condition of the Washington Bridge and the abrupt closure of its westbound lanes in December, Gov. Dan McKee’s office announced Friday evening.

McKee’s office said in an email at 6 p.m. that federal investigators contacted the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) for documents and records related to the closure.

“This is not unexpected, and the Governor welcomes the review,” McKee spokesperson Olivia DaRocha said in a statement. “The Governor has instructed the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to fully cooperate.”

McKee has faced criticism this week on talk radio and on social media after he suggested in news media interviews that the delays caused by the westbound bridge closure amounted to an additional 10 to 15 minutes for motorists.

“The governor is in La-La Land,” said one woman who called in to “The Tara Granahan Show” on Thursday morning.

The news comes four days after McKee and RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. held a hastily-arranged press conference to announce that the bridge may need to be entirely rebuilt. Alviti threw out the three-month timeline for its reopening.

McKee’s office said Alviti told East Bay legislators that he expects to have recommendations on next steps from engineers by the end of February or early March.

“As we’ve said previously, we welcome oversight and review into this matter,” RIDOT spokesperson Charles St. Martin said in an email.

The House Oversight Committee plans to hold a public hearing about the status of the Washington Bridge on either Feb. 13 or Feb. 14, but it’s unclear why the date has not been solidified.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said “the Senate would be amenable to conducting a joint oversight hearing with the House prior to the February recess.”

Recess is scheduled for Feb. 19 through 23.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha agreed that the request from federal investigators would be something not unexpected.

“I wouldn’t read too much into it at this point,” Neronha said in a post on X. “Getting information in this situation happens all the time. The issue is whether the federal government paid for something they didn’t get.”