PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- More questions are being raised about the wear and tear of the eastbound Washington Bridge, after the state was forced to increase the amount of traffic on the span to deal with the closure of the westbound span, emails reveal. On Sept. 13, R.I. Department of Transportation project manager Anthony Pompei emailed Aetna Bridge Co. officials to notify them that some expansion joints on the eastbound bridge needed repair work after gaps had been discovered. Pompei's email expressed a sense of urgency, pointing out the material was "temperature sensitive," and that the work needed to be done at night to avoid traffic disruptions. "This will likely need to be scheduled within the next few weeks," Pompei wrote. The request triggered a round of emails, including at least one from a subcontractor that expressed concern regarding the state's proposed fix for the problem. The emails carry the subject line “Washington Bridge ― Eastbound Expansion Joint Extra Work” and were first reported by The Boston Globe. "The recommendation from our Bridge Engineer is to fill in these voids with Emcrete," Pompei wrote in an Oct. 21 email. Lori Manni, president of Aetna subcontractor Capital City Construction & Management Services Inc., responded a short time later to raise a red flag about using Emcrete, which is described as an "elastomeric concrete" often used as a patching material. "Please be advised that, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended use, Emcrete is not recommended for use in structural repairs," Manni wrote. Photos obtained by Target 12 show the expansion joints in question. In one a worker uses a measuring tape to mark an eight-inch gap in the joint from apparent erosion. Emails show there were some questions as to whether the gaps would need more attention before using Emcrete. "We attempted the repair on the west joint," Steven Aguiar, a project manager for Aetna, wrote in an early morning email. But, he continued, "the condition of the substrate concrete was in bad shape in some areas and would need a full depth concrete repair." The crew opted to temporarily fill the gap with asphalt until everyone could come to a consensus. "We need direction from RIDOT on how to proceed moving forward," Aguiar wrote. The westbound side of the Washington Bridge, which connects East Providence to Providence via I-195, has been closed for nearly a year after a junior engineer uncovered the critical failure of the steel anchor rods that hold its major beams in place. RIDOT opened a third lane of westbound traffic on the eastbound Washington Bridge in late April as a way to ease congestion. RIDOT spokesperson Charles St. Martin said the expansion joint at issue was not on the bridge itself but rather "located off the bridge on a concrete approach slab-on-grade (on the ground) adjacent to the bridge and as such is not a bridge structure issue." St. Martin said the issue was detected as part of "regular preventative maintenance checks," which include tasks like checking for potholes, sweeping, bridge washing, clearing drains, and more. RIDOT has repeatedly said engineers have examined the eastbound Washington Bridge and determined can handle extra weight from two-way traffic and temporary concrete barriers. A week and a half after the initial round of emails about the problematic expansion joint, Manni sent a follow-up email to "memorialize" a conversation she had with an Emcrete representative who came to the site and saw the condition of the concrete. She said the company official "endorsed" the use of Emcrete after that visit. "I stand corrected in my original opinion," Manni wrote. "It appeared from the pictures I was given that there would most likely be a full depth repair of the concrete." St. Martin said RIDOT inspects the entire eastbound bridge every six months rather than on the typical two-year inspection cycle. "RIDOT and its contractors are closely and proactively monitoring the condition of the bridge to ensure the eastbound span continues to be safe for use," St. Martin said. St. Martin told Target 12 that the latest inspection of the bridge is still underway. He said the work on the joints near the end of the bridge began in mid-October and would take about one month to complete during late evening and overnight hours on weeknights, "when traffic volumes are lowest." The current repair, according to St. Martin, includes a total of eight joints, two on the far ends of the bridge and six associated with the nearby Valley Street Bridge, a separate structure. He said the cost to repair all eight joints was $509,000. St. Martin said the work is considered to be “bridge maintenance” and not new construction, so the joint repairs are paid for with state highway maintenance funds, not federal construction funding. The Washington Bridge has four other joints that are not part of this repair, according to St. Martin. "They are in good condition but showing signs of wear and will be maintained during future repair work that has not been scheduled yet," he said. Olivia DaRocha, a spokesperson for Gov. Dan McKee said they rely on "RIDOT experts to evaluate and provide guidance on the eastbound bridge’s condition." "They have assured us that the bridge is capable of handling the increase traffic, and had the bridge analyzed by two engineering firms prior to implementing the three-lane traffic configuration last spring," DaRocha said. Records obtained by Target 12 show less than a week after additional lanes of westbound traffic were added to the eastbound bridge, RIDOT sought to hire a Swiss technology company to use a monitoring system technology that can weigh trucks in real time at any speed on the eastbound bridge. RELATED: RIDOT engineer expressed concerns about extra weight on eastbound Washington Bridge “The eastbound Washington Bridge has become considerably more sensitive since the closing of the westbound bridge,” the documents stated. An inspection of the eastbound bridge was performed in late March and early April this year. Target 12 obtained photos from the report as a result of a public records request. Engineers found that the bridge, which was reconstructed in 2008, was in "fair" condition. The report said the bridge's deck and superstructure were rated in "good" condition, and that an evaluation of its structure was above the minimum tolerable level. However, the report also noted that drain pipes through the concrete deck in one of the bays had rust, an electrical conduit flexible coupling at the joint was "torn and detached," and in different spans of the bridge, there were two junction boxes that had missing bolts. In early September, RIDOT said it was installing the new weigh-in monitoring system on the eastbound Washington Bridge as a precautionary measure. Construction had already gotten underway on Aug. 19. At the time, St. Martin stated that the purchase and installation of the system was proactive and “there are no indications of any issues with the bridge.” St. Martin told Target 12 on Wednesday that the system is "still in a period of testing and calibration." Alexandra Leslie ([email protected]) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Tim White ([email protected]) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.