Final: Alabama 41, Georgia 34
No. 4 Alabama wins an absolutely crazy game over No. 2 Georgia. Bama blew a 28-point lead but found a way to save it with Ryan Williams’ circus catch in the final minutes.
If you’ve tried to get in and out of the East Bay the past two months, you’ve probably noticed – while in traffic – there’s a problem with the westbound span of the Washington Bridge, which takes Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River.
Understanding what went wrong with the bridge is challenging – the state has an army of engineers and consultants working on that now.
How did it happen? And how has it played out? Here’s a timeline:
Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, 1:40 p.m.: Andrew Prezioso, a structural engineer and team leader for bridge design contractor VHB, emails Rhode Island Department of Transportation officials with a “critical finding” on the bridge. At least two of the anchor rods securing the concrete spans cantilevered over the river have failed. Another two have narrowed significantly, a sign of stress.
This video led to the shutdown of the Washington Bridge
This video, filmed by an engineer inspecting the bridge, shows the bouncing that led to RIDOT closing the westbound lanes of the Washington Bridge.
2:42 p.m.: RIDOT Managing Engineer Keith Gaulin responds in a group email: “Based on our phone conversation, it seems there are no immediate actions to be taken right at this moment as we try to determine other short and long-term solutions.”
He says it is unclear whether the damage is old or new and asks to set up a meeting Monday to discuss it further.
Monday, Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m. – noon: Engineers from RIDOT and VHB are invited to a “Washington Bridge Critical Finding Discussion” virtual meeting. Prezioso shares a video of bridge beams “bouncing.” At some point on Monday afternoon RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. is briefed on the bridge and agrees with “the recommendation from the engineers that the bridge should be closed,” according to RIDOT spokesman Charles St. Martin.
2:52 p.m.: Alviti calls Gov. Dan McKee to tell him there is a problem with the bridge’s westbound span. “The director contacted the governor shortly after deciding to close the bridge,” St. Martin has said.
4:40 p.m.: An email alert is sent to Rhode Island news outlets saying Alviti “will host a press conference to discuss the closure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge due to the finding of a critical failure of some original bridge components from the 1960s.”
5 p.m.: At the news conference, at RIDOT headquarters on Capitol Hill, Alviti, the only senior official present, tells reporters the potential failure of old parts of the bridge are “such that it could potentially be the cause of a catastrophic failure” and that I-195 West is closed to traffic.
5:30 p.m.: McKee makes previously scheduled visit to Hope High School basketball practice in Providence.
Why Rhode Island closed half of the Washington Bridge
Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr. explains why the state shut down half of the primary link between eastern and western Rhode Island.
Tuesday, Dec, 12, 4:20 a.m.: Cheyenne Cazeault, policy advisor in McKee’s office, alerts state officials to conference call with municipal leaders that morning about the bridge. Morning commute times double, triple or more with the highway only open heading east.
11:30 a.m.: McKee joins Alviti and other officials for a news conference about the bridge closure. McKee calls it “an event that cannot be avoided and cannot be predicted.” Alviti says “we averted a major catastrophe.” Repairs are estimated to take three months.
4 p.m. – 8 p.m.: The evening commute is worse than the morning, with drivers who crossed the river quickly in the morning now marooned going the other way as East Providence side streets gridlock with motorists trying to get to the Henderson Bridge as an alternative. Some guess it might be faster to drive north to I-95 in Pawtucket; others head south to the Pell Bridge in Newport.
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 5:56 p.m.: Pregnant women are advised not to try to cross the Seekonk to get to the hospital by car and instead to call an ambulance.
Friday Dec. 15, Before dawn: An emergency bypass allows two lanes of westbound traffic to use two lanes of the eastbound span, easing some the worst congestion and spreading it out more evenly to both directions.
Watch reporters race to downtown Providence during bridge closure
Two reporters race to downtown Providence from East Providence City Hall to see what the best commuting option is.
Monday, Dec. 18: RIDOT tasks bridge consultant Michael Baker and its subcontractors to conduct a “forensic analysis” of the bridge’s condition and how it may have deteriorated. Separately, the Department of Administration hires another firm, McNary Bergeron, to review the forensic analysis and come to its own conclusion.
Thursday, Dec. 21, 6 a.m.: Ferry service from Bristol to Providence begins. Ridership is low.
Wednesday, Jan. 20.: Ferry service ends.
Monday, Jan. 22: Alviti says engineers are still trying decide how best to repair the bridge and tearing it down can’t be ruled out.
Friday, Jan. 26, 10:20 a.m.: The U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island informs RIDOT it is investigating allegations of false claims for payment on the Washington Bridge and demands documents going back to January 2015. McKee’s office publicly announces the investigation at 6 p.m. and says he will be receiving direct updates from engineers on the repairs.
More: Feds probe alleged ‘false claims’ of work, inspections on Washington Bridge. What we know.
Earlier that morning, Alviti had told East Bay lawmakers that engineers might not have a plan to repair the bridge until the end of February, early March.
Monday, Jan. 28: McKee announces that he has dispatched top aide Joseph Almond to monitor the DOT’s response to the bridge closure.
The biggest game of the season so far delivered in a big way.
No. 4 Alabama had No. 2 Georgia on the ropes early in their top-five showdown, up 28-0 at one point, but the Bulldogs just kept fighting their way back and forced a dramatic finish in Tuscaloosa. In the end, after trading leads late in the fourth quarter, Alabama secured the win with a miraculous catch-and-run TD by freshman Ryan Williams, and then an interception in the end zone by cornerback Zabien Brown.
The 41-34 finish was the capper on an incredible day of college football action — one that got going early when Kentucky went into Oxford against No. 6 Ole Miss and stunned the Rebels, 20-17, in a back-and-forth affair that ended with a shanked field goal that would’ve tied it.
And yet another highly ranked team lost to an unranked opponent at home when Arizona beat No. 10 Utah 23-10 in a late-night upset.
Later in the day, No. 21 Oklahoma got a late pick 6 to spark a comeback win over Auburn and earn its first SEC win. No. 16 Notre Dame also notched a key victory of its own in holding off No. 15 Louisville while No. 9 Penn State handled No. 19 Illinois at home and Colorado blew out UCF on the road.
And to cap the night, No. 25 Boise State rode running back Ashton Jeanty to a big 45-24 win over Washington State.
Live166 updates
No. 4 Alabama wins an absolutely crazy game over No. 2 Georgia. Bama blew a 28-point lead but found a way to save it with Ryan Williams’ circus catch in the final minutes.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Between the horses, alpacas, bunny rabbits and ferris wheel — and the frighteningly tall character hanging near the stage, where a band was performing live — you have to give it to Rutgers. They do gameday right.
There are food trucks and plenty of carnival games for all ages throughout the Rutgers Boardwalk, which opens four hours before kickoff of each game at SHI Stadium. The marching band rolls through for a performance, and the team buses pull up near the end for the “Scarlet Walk” into the stadium.
It was a festive atmosphere inside, too, particularly with Rutgers leading for most of its 21-18 victory over the visiting Washington Huskies on Friday night. It was UW’s first road game of the season, and the first in a series of what should be several amped environments. Last night was a blackout game. At Penn State, UW will see a “White Out.” The Huskies are among the biggest games on Iowa’s home schedule this year, too. Indiana is putting together what could be its best (full) season in some time. And you know what to expect at Autzen.
It would be nice if Washington could fully blame all its miscues on the long trip to New Jersey, or the short week, or the weather. The penalties, though, have been an issue for much of this season.
So have the red-zone problems.
“It’s not anything that the defense is doing,” said quarterback Will Rogers. “It’s all self-inflicted stuff.”
The stat sheet supported that assertion on Friday.
Here’s what else I’m thinking about as I await my flight home.
Rutgers has found a way defensively.
The Scarlet Knights have done it by limiting opponents on third downs and buckling down in the red zone, but in its two games against Power Four opponents, Rutgers has not been good enough for a unit that finished last season ranked 16th nationally in yards allowed.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Video: Who Are the Black Swing Voters?
Dem lawmakers push bill to restore funding to UN agency with alleged ties to Hamas: 'So necessary'
Election 2024 Polls: Florida
Four killed, dozens injured in Alabama shooting
Critics slam landmark EU competitiveness report as 'one-sided'
Democrats lash out at ‘misinformed’ Teamsters as union makes landmark non-endorsement
Bomb threats followed Trump's false claims about Springfield. Some Haitians may leave
Secret Service protection bill passes House unanimously after Trump assassination attempts