PROVIDENCE — On the eve of the planned closure of roads in city for the continued razing of the structure and just as suddenly as it was shuttered some 10 months ago, the state announced late Tuesday evening, Sept. 17, it has halted demolition of the westbound Washington Bridge span so as to preserve evidence for the lawsuits against 13 contractors it filed last month.

The Offices of Attorney General Peter Nerhonha and Governor Dan McKee issued the following joint statement on the topic, "The engineers for RIDOT (Rhode Island Department of Transportation), in cooperation with the state’s legal team, have reached the point in the demolition of the Washington Bridge where work must be paused to preserve evidence for the legal case. The goal is to be able to continue demolition as swiftly as possible while ensuring important evidence is preserved."

RIDOT had initially planned to shut down part of Waterfront Drive in city near the bridge at Valley Street and Warren Avenue likely for several days, but suddenly brought the plan to a stop amidst the litigation.

“The goal is to be able to continue demolition as swiftly as possible while ensuring important evidence is preserved,” RIDOT Chief of Public Affairs Charles St. Martin told local media Tuesday. No timetable for the resumption of the demo was issued at that time.

The process of tearing down the 56-year-old westside structure started about two weeks ago on both sides of the Seekonk River, including in Providence in the Gano Street area.

Work does continue on a highlight for RIDOT, the near flawless demo and replacement of the Henderson Bridge, which connrects the city with  Providence's East Side.

For the rest of the current week, anticipated to end on Friday, Sept. 20, the following traffic modifications are in place in and around the Henderson Bridge project on both sides of the Seekonk River:

In East Providence, the Henderson Expressway from North Broadway to the roundabout is now open to traffic. RIDOT also is planning alternating single lane closures in both directions are expected for power washing and miscellaneous work daily from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.