CUMBERLAND – During two recent rainstorms, including one over the weekend, water backed up and ponded on Diamond Hill Road’s newly renovated Newell Bridge, forcing drivers who saw the flooding in time to creep through.
The Local Insider reached out to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation on the situation, and a RIDOT representative responded that they’re aware of the situation and are now preparing to address it.
RIDOT had previously said they would make adjustments to guardrails on the bridge that are effectively blocking pedestrian access, and Gudmundson said they’re also aware of the periodic street flooding.
“The drainage system is off the bridge, and was not part of that reconstruction project,” she said. “However, we are beginning a project very soon to address it as well as make some adjustments to the guardrail to make it easier for people to walk across the bridge behind the guardrail.”
She said that work will be done by the end of the year.
A visit to the bridge Monday afternoon showed that there is little chance for water to leave the bridge during a rainstorm, with limited drainage structures on either end of the span.
Mayor Jeff Mutter said Monday evening that he spoke with RIDOT earlier in the day, after an Insider inquiry, and representatives informed him that they would be using an emergency procurement to get the bridge fixed.
Asked whether beaver activity in the area could be contributing to the situation, Gudmundson said they don’t believe it’s a factor.
The Local Insider reported back in May on the restoration of the tiny bridge with the long history.
The bridge provides a key connection to the northern parts of town, as well as the neighboring city of Woonsocket and neighboring state of Massachusetts. After initially planning to close the bridge for a period, RIDOT eventually came up with a plan to mostly keep it open as work was completed. A complete shutdown was limited to a couple of weekends.
The Newell Bridge’s completion and the nearby rapid replacement of the Diamond Hill Road overpass crossing I-295 in Cumberland are two of many projects that have contributed to the nearly complete overhaul of Cumberland’s two main corridors, Diamond Hill Road and Mendon Road. Diamond Hill Road previously underwent a major drainage and resurfacing project, as well as the installation of two new roundabouts at I-295.
