Washington Bridge Traffic Woes Intensify with Increased Crashes and Ongoing Repairs

Rhode Island officials urge drivers to adjust to new traffic patterns as accidents triple and economic impact deepens.

Rhode Island officials report a significant increase in accidents on the Washington Bridge since the closure of its westbound side, with daily crashes rising from one to three.
A $400,000 PR campaign aims to encourage Rhode Islanders to continue visiting businesses affected by the bridge closure and traffic congestion.
The state has begun additional repaving and is opening new lanes to improve traffic flow, despite the narrower temporary lanes causing concerns.
Local businesses report substantial declines in revenue, with some seeing a 20-22% drop in sales due to the disrupted traffic patterns.
Officials emphasize the importance of staying in lanes and avoiding phone use while driving to enhance safety on the bridge.