STORY OF THE WEEK: The Washington Bridge saga took a noteworthy turn when state officials this week declined to rule out the possible demolition of the westbound portion of the bridge. If such a drastic step proves necessary, it would suggest the bridge was in far worse shape than first indicated in December. It would also raise a host of other questions and ramp up the frustration of drivers in and around Providence. While media coverage of the congestion and longer travel times caused by the situation has focused on East Providence, a larger geographical area is feeling the effects. The Henderson Bridge from EP to Providence is backed up in the morning, and the area around Rhode Island Hospital resembles a parking lot during the afternoon rush hour. On Wednesday, Gov. Dan McKee told reporters that ripple effects from the bridge are adding only about 10 or 15 minutes to commute times – an estimate at odds with the experience of many if not most motorists. Suffice it to say that the political stakes of the Washington Bridge are very big for McKee and RIDOT Director Peter Aliviti, one of the longest-serving department heads in state government. For now, the precise fix for the bridge – and how long that will take – remains unclear. East Bay lawmakers report that new engineering information is expected by late February or early March, as motorists deal with major inconvenience, since, as Rep. Jason Knight (D-Barrington) told me, travel times vary unpredictably for the same route day by day. Even with that timeline, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi is sticking by plans to hold an Oversight hearing, most likely in mid-February: “My position has been very clear and I am not changing. I am committed to holding a House Oversight Committee hearing before the February recess,” Shekarchi said in a statement. “I am open to a joint hearing with the Senate or holding a hearing just with the House.” Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said he, too, would welcome a joint hearing.