RI Small Business Loans Approved In Wake Of Bridge Shutdown: Report

RHODE ISLAND — Along with the news that a two-lane bypass opened earlier than expected to help travelers in the wake of the Washington Bridge shutdown came an announcement about emergency loans for small businesses, according to WJAR, which cites a conference from Governor Dan McKee.

Low-interest rate, emergency loans for small businesses along the route in Rhode Island have been approved, and E-ZPass transponder issuance fees will be waived, according to the outlet.

Thanks to McKee's disaster declaration, which was signed by the United States Small Business Administration, affected small businesses will be able to apply for loans with a 4% interest rate, or 3.25% for nonprofits, WJAR reported.

Businesses in Bristol County, Massachusetts, and Windham County, Connecticut, will also be eligible, according to the outlet.

In a letter to the administration Thursday, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation explained the "serious toll" the closure of this "vital corridor" will have on residents, commuters, and small businesses.

"Nearby businesses rely on the bridge for their daily operations," U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo said in a joint statement. "Customers might avoid areas surrounding the bridge due to traffic, which would hit business revenues particularly hard during the busy holiday season, and businesses are already struggling to receive and send out deliveries."

Meanwhile, the Interstate 195 westbound bypass lanes opened Friday morning on the Washington bridge, much earlier than the original estimate of two to three weeks, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation said.

This temporary traffic pattern from East Providence to Providence allows two lanes of travel westbound and two lanes of eastbound travel — all operating on the eastbound side of the bridge.

State officials said they expect the bypass lanes will help alleviate congestion, but there will still be delays. Motorists may continue to find one detour route or the other more effective for them. As traffic becomes accustomed to the change with the bypass lanes open, RIDOT expects congestion levels to even out and create more predictable traffic flow and travel times.

In addition, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation will offer ferry service with the ability to move over 1,100 passengers every hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Providence to Bristol and vice versa starting next week, according to WJAR.

The bridge could be closed for as long as three months after serious faults were found in some of the original 1960s bridge components during the bridge's reconstruction, officials announced Monday.

McKee said during a news conference Monday that fixing the bridge is the "top priority in the state of Rhode Island right now."