Rhode Island Washington Bridge Now Has 3 Lanes But Is It Better?

This message is for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and its decision to put three lanes on the westbound side of the Washington Bridge.

I am a Warwick, Rhode Island, resident who commutes to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Monday through Friday. For the past four months, I have been a victim of the Washington Bridge fiasco.

I have been diligently reading the headlines and watching news reports of how RIDOT seemingly found the bridge unfit to use in December and scrambled for solutions, all the while I was idling in my Nissan in gridlock traffic for every ride home from Fairhaven, wondering how the state could allow this bridge to get to this point.

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On Monday, April 22, it was the first commute day for me and many others with three lanes now available on the westbound side.

When the news broke that three lanes would be implemented, I had my doubts.

How would it even be plausible? Will the lanes be big enough to even drive through?

My first commute day is in the books, and I have two simple words for you.

THANK YOU.

While I still believe that someone needs to be held accountable for this serious failure, whoever came up with this three-lane plan deserves a raise.

Last week, it took me 90 minutes to get from Fairhaven to Warwick. On Monday, it took me the standard 45 minutes, and I was on the verge of happy tears.

I'm not alone.

"Way better," said Tia Crystal.

"Pretty smooth," said Denis Lawrence.

Rhode Island and Massachusetts commuters still deserve answers to this dilemma, and we hope for a speedy solution, but in the meantime, the three lanes have provided the congestion relief that I have been craving for months.

To my fellow commuters, may your drive to work be a little more peaceful this week.

Better days are ahead.

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