PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Administration will hire a third-party firm to conduct a review of the R.I. Department of Transportation’s analysis of what led to the closure of the Washington Bridge.
The DOA released a statement late Monday announcing that Gov. Daniel J. McKee had instructed it to procure a contractor “to provide independent oversight and review of the Washington Bridge forensic analysis for the Department of Transportation” to determine what caused the damage that led to the emergency shutdown that has snarled traffic and impacted commuters and businesses across the state.
Asked if the administration was considering an emergency procurement available to state officials for issues related to public safety, rather than issuing a request for proposals, to speed up the process, DOA spokesperson Laura Hart said Tuesday the administration “is currently evaluating procurement options for engaging an independent expert to ensure that a thorough review of what led to the Washington Bridge closure is completed.”
RIDOT has already engaged with Boston-based engineering firm Wiss, Janney, Elster Associates Inc. to complete an internal review. Because RIDOT has procured its own contractor, the administration is requesting an outside analysis.
“The independent expert will provide oversight and review of WJE’s forensic analysis,” Hart said.
Additional details on the contract cost and procurement timeline were not immediately available.
RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. has said publicly he believes the damage was likely caused by an “abnormally” large truck load that crossed the bridge sometime after the last inspection in July. And McKee has defended RIDOT's handling of the crisis, arguing the quick mobilization avoided a potential catastrophe.
During an interview with PBN on Dec. 18, Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio said he doesn’t support the recent calls for legislative oversight hearings and is confident that state and federal agencies will get to the bottom of what transpired.
“Obviously it was an emergency situation, and we are thankful that no one was hurt,” he said. “Obviously that was a defective bridge. We have had problems with our roads and bridges for years. The state of Rhode Island does an absolutely poor job at maintaining its infrastructure."
Still, Ruggerio expressed support for Alviti.
“This was a situation that I don’t think anyone could have anticipated,” Ruggerio said. “These things happen. I look at this as an isolated incident.”
Additionally, the free ferry service planned between Bristol and Providence to provide alternative travel routes for commuters impacted by the Washington Bridge closure and temporary bypass that was scheduled to begin on Dec. 20 has been pushed back. RIDOT announced Tuesday that a mechanical issue with a crane needed to position a floating dock at the ferry terminal at India Point Park has delayed the service until Dec. 21.
Christopher Allen is a PBN staff writer. You may contact him at Allen@PBN.com.
Seriously?!? Disaster Dan is going waste taxpayer dollars to pay an outside consultant to tell him how RIDOT screwed up. If he can’t get the answer directly from RIDOT himself, he’s a bigger idiot than everybody thinks.