EAST PROVIDENCE — State and local officials once again gathered in East Providence Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, to discuss the calamity created as a result of the sudden closure of the westbound side of the dilapidated Washington Bridge by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation earlier in the week.

Governor Dan McKee drove around the city with Mayor Bob DaSilva to witness first-hand the clogged streets in East Providence. Earlier in the morning they conducted a conference call with other elected and appointed municipal officials from affected locations.

DaSilva said there was a "remarkable difference" in the morning rush from Wednesday versus the day prior, noting Department of Public Works personnel joined East Providence Police officers in guiding motorists to their destinations in and out of the city.

EPPD Chief Chris Francesconi when asked about the difference in traffic flows day-to-day, said it was a "combination of things...Yesterday significantly worse than today...Over the past 48 hours we've consistently tweaked our deployment. We've restricted vehicles form using side streets, which really choked the main thoroughfares...It's any hourly process. We're constantly reviewing our deployment. We have people spread throughout the city to respond."

Both officials agreed the need to place more signage around the city, noting the detours recommended to drivers in different sections of East Providence. About those detours, there was also agreement on the necessity to more definitively direct motorists to specific streets as to ease the overall congestion in neighborhoods.

To better view, monitor and react to traffic snarls, McKee said RIDOT intends to install temporary cameras in the most heavily driven areas of East Providence.

On a similar note, McKee said he expects to coordinate more closely with his counterparts from Massachusetts, urging drivers there to seek alternate routes before they approach Rhode Island.

For those farther afield, it is recommended to use Route 24 in Fall River to Interstate 495 then to Interstate 95 as a means getting to Rhode Island and points south.

For those closer to the state line, it is recommended they depart Interstate 195 at Exit 1 in Seekonk then reach Route 152 towards Pawtucket as they attempt to reach I-95 South or North.

In addition, elected officials are already hearing from businesses around East Providence, who felt the immediate impact of the Washington Bridge closure due to accelerated deterioration of the westbound deck substructure.

Those in the center of the city in the Taunton, Waterman and Massasoit Avenue area have felt the brunt of the interruptions as local drivers attempt to reach the East Side of Providence and points west and south at the recently reconstructed Henderson Bridge. The Honeybird Kitchen + Cocktails restaurant in the heart of the new roundabout on Massasoit needed to abruptly close at 7 p.m. Tuesday because customers were unable to access its location.

Wednesday morning, McKee said another press event will take place later in the afternoon at RIDOT headquarters in Providence to update the public on the progress of bridge repairs, including the splitting of the eastbound side to allow access to westbound motorists.

Also of note, McKee said any additional expense created for municipalities due to the closure, like overtime time and purchase of necessary materials, will be considered part of the construction costs, anything that happens as a direct result of the construction we consider part of the overall costs.