"Washington Bridge Construction Exposes Broken Rods, East Providence Grapples with Traffic and Police Manage Angry Drivers: Latest Updates"

Internal emails obtained by Target 12 reveal that engineers at RIDOT acknowledged the section of the Washington Bridge that led to its sudden closure had been hard to see until construction work made it "noticeable." The emails also show state officials' frantic efforts to address the crisis, with concerns raised about the deterioration of rods holding up the bridge. RIDOT's public statements about the bridge failure's cause contrast with internal analysis, prompting a forensic investigation. Additionally, frustration is evident in the emails over the inability to secure emergency federal funding due to the bridge not collapsing or being damaged by a natural disaster.