Arlene Violet: A Plea on Behalf of the Little Guys

Arlene Violet: A Plea on Behalf of the Little Guys

 

I have former neighbors visiting from out of town. They had an appointment in Providence at 10 a.m. on June 3rd, so I warned them to leave around 8:30 a.m. out of an abundance of caution since they had to traverse the Washington Bridge.  Silly me. There was an accident between 2 trucks traveling in two lanes on Interstate W 195, and it took them 1 hour 30 minutes just to navigate that section of their trip. They arrived at their appointment at 10:35 a.m., filled with anxiety as to whether they were going to forfeit the appointment.

 

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I hope it caught your eye that the accident was between 2 trucks side by side.  Neither of them was supposed to be traveling in the 2 outside lanes where they collided . The lanes are far too small to accommodate their girth. Nonetheless, despite the signage telling trucks to travel only in the right lane on both sides of the bridge, the drivers ignored the directive.

 

Now, if you travel over that span on a regular basis,  you know the reason why truck drivers ignore the directive, namely, there are no State Police to enforce the mandate.

 

Later that afternoon, several other friends called in frustration because they were stuck in traffic on the bridge heading west on 195W.  The reason? Another traffic accident involving two errant trucks in the 2 outside lanes. Again, not a state trooper was to be found enforcing the prohibition of traveling in the outside lanes.  They each were delayed by 1 hour 42 minutes getting home solely because of the second truck accident on the same day. One would think that a government that has the slightest interest in the poor working stiffs who have to pay taxes would at least have a respite from a repeat on the same day. No, it was business as usual for the ruling class in Rhode Island.

 

It got me wondering about my own trips, usually over that route 3-4 times a week. Occasionally, I have seen a state police car, usually at the entrance on 195E coming onto the highway on Warren Avenue, and occasionally one parked on the grass heading west on 195.  I’m not sure there is a live body in the one near Warren Ave. since I can’t see any driver behind the wheel, but that could be because I’m an old dame whose eyesight may be fading even though I passed my recent vision test. Nonetheless, a police presence to enforce the truck rule is virtually non-existent.

 

So, these truck accidents got me to thinking about just what needs to happen to at least embarrass the state house into doing something for the travel weary taxpayer.   Not cleaning the bridge of icing materials at the average cost of $2000 a season year after year  led to the multi-million cost of replacement because of erosion. Not having a state engineer oversee the so-called “fix” to the highway year after year while hundreds of millions were spent, until we have a $427.9 million projected cost to build another 195 replacement, didn’t cause any red-cheeked faces.  The idiotic signs that thanked the taxpaying serfs for their patience and the now signs heralding that the project is on time and on budget (WHAT???) insult us slugs as we go to work.  Is there no shame , even in an election year?

 

Governor Dan McKee bemoans the financial impact on businesses in East Bay, actually everywhere since I and others hesitate to book dinners or events that require a trip over the bridge until my guilt kicks in and I do, yet construction moves at a snail’s pace. I know that permits, steel fabrication, coordinating utility work, etc., are necessary steps, but it’s been over 2 years since the closure, and couldn’t this work have progressed simultaneously so construction work could ensue this summer?

 

As the real people who foot the bill travel over the bridge, may each day remind them of the disrespect the government shows them.  Their safety is also an issue when the weight of trucks , particularly carrying a load of product, is dormant on the bridge. And, as the state adds another $1 billion in taxes to the budget, remember that you really are in charge and show them who the boss is in November.