Third Washington Bridge oversight hearing to take place Thursday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The third oversight hearing since the westbound Washington Bridge was abruptly closed will be held Thursday afternoon. This session will take a different turn as former U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha has been brought on to lead the investigation.

The ongoing lawsuit against 13 companies accused of contributing to the bridge’s structural failure has limited how much information RIDOT can share publicly. During the previous hearings, lawmakers were advised by the governor’s and attorney general’s offices to avoid questions that might interfere with the state’s legal case.

One key difference in this third hearing is R.I. Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti, the only witness being called, will testify under oath. Governor McKee previously objected to Alviti testifying under oath stating the placing of state employees under oath was “disrespectful.” When pressed on why, the governor replied, “Basically because you’re not believing what’s being told—said to them.”

Governor Dan McKee asked Attorney General Peter Neronha to have a member of his team attend, though Neronha said Alviti would be free to answer questions without interruption.

Legislators plan to focus on whether regular maintenance was performed, whether bridge inspections were carried out properly, and whether RIDOT was paying attention to the right warning signs.

The renewed oversight follows after we leaked the long-awaited forensic audit of the bridge, which revealed that officials were aware of structural concerns well before its December 2023 shutdown, contradicting what lawmakers had been told in earlier hearings. The report had been withheld by the governor’s office since spring 2024, but Attorney General Neronha made it fully public after it was leaked.

The hearing is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The Washington Bridge shutdown in Rhode Island has caused major disruptions for commuters and businesses since its unexpected closure in December 2023. The westbound side of the bridge, which connects Providence and East Providence along I-195, was shut down after inspectors discovered severe structural deficiencies that made it unsafe for travel. The closure has led to traffic backups, extended commute times, and growing frustration among residents. State officials have since launched investigations and a lawsuit against several engineering and construction firms believed to be responsible for the bridge’s deterioration. Repair and replacement plans are underway, but full reopening is expected to take several years, making it one of the most significant infrastructure crises in recent Rhode Island history.

Third Washington Bridge oversight hearing.