When the westbound Washington Bridge was suddenly shut down in December 2023, never to re-open, many wondered if the crisis could have been prevented. An investigation by Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio found that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) may have failed to perform crucial inspections of the span that could […]
Michelle San Miguel
Michelle San Miguel is a reporter and co-host for “Rhode Island PBS Weekly,” an in-depth newsmagazine. She covers a range of topics including politics, health, and science, and has been honored twice by the National Educational Telecommunications Association for her reporting. She previously worked at WJAR as well as television stations in Colorado and North Dakota. A graduate of Syracuse University, Michelle is bilingual and enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two sons.
Who’s responsible for the Washington Bridge failure?
More than one year after the westbound Washington Bridge was abruptly shut down, critical questions remain unanswered. “Folks really want to know why did this happen?” said state Rep. June Speakman (D- District 68). She represents constituents in Bristol and Warren, on the east side of the bridge. The westbound Washington Bridge carried traffic on […]

