Washington Bridge to Reopen with Emergency Bypass Lanes

Ferry service to start Monday as state seeks federal aid for affected businesses.

Two emergency bypass lanes on the Washington Bridge are set to open on Saturday, allowing westbound traffic to resume.
A ferry service transporting people between Bristol and Providence is expected to begin operations on Monday.
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has ruled out damage from ongoing construction as the cause of the bridge's structural issues.
The state has requested low-interest economic injury and disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration to aid businesses affected by the bridge closure.
The state administration welcomes outside oversight to examine why the bridge was in danger of collapsing and how the state has responded.