EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — One year ago, drivers across southern New England saw huge delays when the westbound side of the Washington Bridge abruptly shut down. Local businesses have taken a hit over the last year, but one business owner is bucking the trend and opening up shop in East Providence. Savage Angel Fitness is opening its doors on Warren Avenue, the epicenter of traffic when the bridge first closed, which caused the city to hire police details to direct cars last winter. “I’m taking a risk, it might work, it might not but I’ll never know if I don’t try,” Savage Angel Fitness Owner Djennifer Kaeneman said. “I’m not worried about the traffic, I come from Boston, there’s traffic all the time, it’s really terrible, so the traffic here, it’s not that bad.” East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva said more than 110 businesses in the City qualified for grants through the Washington Bridge Small Business Grant Program. “They have had financial impacts, these businesses did bear the brunt of the bridge closure and it’s nice to get them something,” DaSilva said. The mayor continues to remind people that East Providence is open for business, adding that traffic has eased up over the last year. “Since the third lanes have opened up traffic is moving through the city on a regular business much better than it was before,” DaSilva said. “Speaking to a lot of businesses we’ve seen that they’ve bounced back, they’re resilient, they’re strong, our community is supporting our local businesses so there’s a lot of positives coming out of this.” Positivity is what Savage Angel Fitness is all about. It’s a gym that allows women to exercise in small settings and offers therapy to help people physically work through their injuries. “A lot of people there more on the shy side or they don’t feel comfortable to work out with other people around,” said Kaeneman. “Not everyone looks for a trainer for working out, but to get themselves better and to be more comfortable with themselves.” Kaeneman is now excepting new clients. Categories: News, Rhode Island