"Bridge Inspection Reveals Extraordinary Force That Destroyed Anchor Rods"

The R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director, Peter Alviti, maintains that inspection photos show the anchor rods on the Washington Bridge were in working order during the summer inspection, despite the recent discovery of sheared and severed rods. The emergency inspection report included images of the damaged anchor rods, but skeptics question whether the inspectors adequately checked the rods' integrity. Alviti believes an extraordinary external force, possibly an abnormally heavy load, caused the damage. RIDOT is working to create bypass lanes to alleviate traffic delays caused by the bridge closure.