PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It has been one year since the westbound side of the Washington Bridge closed to commuters, and some residents still want someone to be held accountable for the traffic nightmare it created. Three months after the closure, Gov. Dan McKee declared there would be a “day of reckoning” for those responsible. In August, Attorney General Peter Neronha joined McKee in filing a state lawsuit against 13 companies that worked on the bridge prior to it’s closure. “I’m confident that we’re pursuing those individuals that I believe should be held accountable, and we’re doing it in a professional way,” McKee said. “This is normal practice in the construction industry.” Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Aliviti has shouldered the brunt of public frustration, but continues to insist that the department bears no responsibility. “I have no evidence at this point that points to anyone inside [RIDOT],” he said. “The decisions that we made were based on advice that was given by consultants.” RIDOT recently narrowed down its search for a company to rebuild the bridge to two finalists. The closure has also taken a toll on local business and resources in both Providence and East Providence, with both cities paying for police details to handle the traffic after the unplanned closure. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that he’s happy to see that demolition work moving along, but added that there’s still an urgency to get the bridge fixed as soon as possible. “This is another step in the process, we now know that there’s interested bidders and [RIDOT] is going to work quickly with the two selected finalists,” he said. “The bridge is still having an impact on my city, so I remain anxious to see this thing completed in the years to come.” Meanwhile, East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva said that it was “good to know” that there was a definitive plan in place. “There’s an aggressive timeline in place now, and there’s a definitive timeline and I’m hopeful,” he said. DaSilva also said that with the three lanes opened up in each direction on the old eastbound side of the bridge, traffic has gotten better in his city since the initial bridge shutdown. McKee added that he hopes any money drawn in from the lawsuit will help cover the costs of demolishing and rebuilding the bridge. Both McKee and Alviti also said that the reopening date was likely years away, and there have been no updates on the lawsuit. Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island