Rep. Edwards promises followup with RIDOT on Escape Bridge

Rep. Jay Edwards (D-70), whose district includes the area of Island Park affected by the closure of the Escape Bridge, has reached out to RI Dept. of Transportation (RI DOT) Director Michael Lewis for clarification on the status of this critical evacuation route, he told harddeadlines this afternoon.

In an e-mail, Edwards said that the statement published here from RIDOT's public information officer contradicted assurances he had been given by Lewis.

"That is not what Director Lewis told me on July 24. In fact, he was quite clear about it, that all they had to do was remove the Jersey barriers," Edwards said.

Edwards said he will be speaking to Lewis within the next day. "This bridge has been one of my top concerns since I was first elected," he said.

Full disclosure: I am a supporter of Jay Edwards.