PROVIDENCE – Despite an outcry of opposition from bicycle advocates and some city councilors, Mayor Brett Smiley announced on Wednesday a plan to remove the two-way bike path on South Water Street in an effort to relieve traffic congestion caused by the closure of the
Washington Bridge on I-195 West. Smiley said a bike lane would be added to the adjacent sidewalk, and the removal of the existing bike path will open up a second lane for drivers on South Water Street. The specific design of the new bike lane infrastructure has not yet been developed, and there will be community meetings ahead of the changes, the mayor’s office said. Advertisement The removal of two-way bike path is part of a series of infrastructure changes Smiley announced in light of the bridge closure, which has had the ripple effect of causing gridlock on some city streets, especially during rush hour. The other planned changes include adjusted traffic light times, lane changes, additional signage about not blocking intersections, and pedestrian safety measures. “The closure of the Washington Bridge has had an increasingly negative impact on our neighbors, businesses, infrastructure and our local quality of life,” Smiley said in a statement. “Providence is responding by implementing temporary and permanent infrastructure changes that will bring much needed relief to our neighbors and business owners that have been negatively impacted by the congestion and traffic volume in our neighborhoods.” The Globe first reported last month that Smiley was considering removing the bike lanes , prompting a fury of outrage from bike and pedestrian advocates that fought for the wide, two-way protected “urban trail.” The bike path, championed by former Mayor Jorge Elorza, was nearly scuttled by the R.I. Department of Transportation at the time, which tried to get the city to halt the project, citing the fact that it was a major connector to an interstate highway. The wide, protected bike path replaced a lane of car traffic when it was installed in 2021. Advertisement Bike lanes have been fiercely debated in urban cities for decades, as advocates push for safer streets that can be shared by pedestrians, cyclists and cars alike, while business owners and residents bemoan the loss of parking spots and travel lanes. Ahead of Smiley’s potential announcement, cyclists staged a protest on Monday, holding a rally outside City Hall before riding bikes to South Water Street and down the disputed bike path. City Councilman John Goncalves, who represents South Water Street, immediately opposed the potential removal of the bike path. In a letter to Smiley this week, he questioned whether the decision to dismantle the bike lanes was backed by any data. He said the bike lanes have slowed traffic on the street, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists alike. “It’s disingenuous to claim that the recent issues with the Washington Bridge necessitate the bike lane removal,” Goncalves wrote. “The truth is, there have been attempts from businesses to erase these lanes long before any bridge problem surfaced.” Goncalves said on Wednesday there are still “unanswered questions concerning the significant expenses involved, the financing sources, the detailed plan of action, and the absence of data to justify the removal of the bikes lanes.” Goncalves is proposing a non-binding resolution at Thursday’s City Council meeting opposing the removal of the bike lanes. The resolution also cites an amendment to a local law that took effect in December, requiring the removal of bike paths to be approved by the Green and Complete Streets Advisory Council. Advertisement Smiley said last month the traffic caused by detouring drivers and bottlenecks near the highway have caused traffic issues where none existed before, necessitating infrastructure changes. He supported an ordinance proposed by Goncalves to restrict heavy trucks from driving on certain East Side streets which have been used as a detour around the bridge closure. He said the impact on South Water Street had become “quite acute,” with “bumper-to-bumper” traffic in the afternoon as drivers wait to get on the highway. The Washington Bridge abruptly closed on Dec. 11 due to a “critical failure,” and was initially expected to be repaired and reopened within months. But state leaders announced last month the bridge will need to be demolished and replaced, with the earliest reopening date in 2026. Both east and westbound traffic is now shifted to the eastbound side of the bridge, which remains open. Smiley’s office said a community meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. next Monday, April 8 at Nathan Bishop Middle School to discuss “how the bridge closure has impacted quality of life and learn more about Providence’s impact mitigation plan.” This is a developing story and will be updated. Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com . Follow her @StephMachado .