Rhode Island Flooding: Laurel Avenue Bridge Expected to Fail

Evacuations Ordered Due to Expected Collapse of Laurel Avenue Bridge

Evacuations have been ordered in the Coventry area of Rhode Island as authorities are expecting the Laurel Avenue Bridge to fail as the Pawtuxet River has already washed away some of the stones in the foundation.

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The following streets have been ordered to evacuate:

North Street
South Street
Edward Street to Knight Street
Washington Street from Laurel Avenue to Pulaski Street
New Dam Road
Dawley Street
Lantern Lane
Bonnie Street
Dodd Street

The Laurel Avenue Bridge is located on Route 117 and due to the record rainfall that Rhode Island has been experiencing, the Pawtuxet River has been getting higher and higher and now the bridge has been declared unsafe.

The flooding in Rhode Island has been the worst the region has experienced in over a century. A major disaster has been declared in areas such as Kent, Newport, Washington counties and Providence. A flood warning advisory has already been issed for the Pawtuxet and Blackstone rivers and more rain is expected to fall.

No deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the flooding, but as the rain continues to fall, it is uncertain how long that will remain the same.