The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is inspecting demolition subcontractor J.R. Vinagro Corp., responsible for performing work on the Washington Bridge, reports WPRI.
“Right now, the indication is they went to the site because of the extreme amount of media conversation that was going on,” Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Director Peter Alviti said in an interview on 12 News at 4.
J.R. Vinagro is working for Aetna Bridge Co. which won the state’s demolition contract last June. A video circulated on social media raised questions about the bridge demolition, with East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva posting a video showing a large chunk of bridge decking crashing onto a barge and into the Providence River.
Regarding the video, RIDOT told 12 News, “What is shown in the video is planned, controlled demolition conducted in accordance with approved demolition plans.”
Alviti adds, “The contractor would break the two ends of the beams and then the center of that arch so that the beam would collapse onto the barges down below. And that is precisely what happened.”
Barges have been used to catch debris throughout the demolition project. A small amount of debris did end up in the river, but RIDOT said that was “to be expected.”
OSHA has up to six months to complete the inspection, and there is no estimated completion date at this time.
