The Park Avenue Railroad Bridge opened Friday after a repair period that lasted over a year. It was only a matter of minutes after the ribbon cutting ceremony that the first vehicle crossed over the bridge connecting Cranston to Providence.

“After a long two years, our emergency response time will now be back to normal and our kids will be able to safely walk to Park View,” said Hopkins. “Our residents and business owners have been patient as DOT navigated many challenges in construction, and I want to thank the laborers for their hard work.”

The Park Avenue Railroad Bridge serves 15,000 commuters on a daily basis, and Hopkins said providing quality infrastructure for residents is one of his top priorities. He is glad that the Park Avenue bridge will be safe for decades to come.

Governor Dan McKee, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos and Senator Joshua Miller (Dist. 28 – Cranston, Providence) joined for the celebration.

Miller welcomed individuals to the heart of his district, mentioning that this bridge split his district in half.

“Almost the first issue I discussed on a regular basis with DOT since 2006 has been this bridge and the status of this bridge,” said Miller.