As of 9am this morning, the Escape Bridge connecting the Hummocks to Island Park in Portsmouth was once again open to all traffic, after three years of weight restrictions and a 10-month, $2M rebuild by the RI Dept. of Transportation (RIDOT). When this reporter drove by at just after 9, there were two workers from Cardi finishing up some work on the northern walkway, but cars and pedestrians were already taking advantage of the span.

This is the place in the story where I would normally thank RIDOT for making this happen -- and I would have, had it not been for this line in yesterday's RIDOT press release:

Through a $2 million contract with Cardi Corporation, RIDOT replaced the superstructure of the 51-year-old bridge, one of two access points that serve as evacuation routes for the Island Park area.

One of two evacuation routes?

Would RIDOT be considering Park Avenue and Boyd's Lane (which is the only other egress from the Park) an evacuation route? Have they seen this video from Irene? It's as if they couldn't issue one final press release without continuing to advance the notion (inherent in their persistence in calling this the "Cove" bridge) that this was somehow not the only way out of Island Park.

I did ask RIDOT spokesman Charles St. Martin about that other evacuation route, but he had not responded to my e-mail by press time. I'll update when he replies.

Update: Charles E. St. Martin III, RIDOT Chief of Information and Public Relations confirms that Boyd's lane is the evacuation route described in their press release:

"Park Ave to Boyd's Lane is an evacuation route. You should inquire with the local police and/or RIEMA about when an evacuation order might be given prior to a hurricane and any tidal surge and flooding that would come with it."

Okay, fine. Whatever you say. Here's a look at Park Ave during Irene.

I stand by my contention that there's only ONE way out of the Park.