Residents Without Power Swarm to Local Businesses

Two days after Tropical Storm Irene hit the Rhode Island coast, thousands of Bristol and Warren homes and businesses, and a number of traffic lights, are still without power.

Around Bristol and Warren, traffic has thinned out a bit since Monday, but locals are still swarming in to the few businesses that are open to get a cup of coffee and some breakfast. As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, lines of cars wrapped around the two Dunkin Donuts stores on Metacom Avenue in Warren. State Police officers have been directing the north bound line of traffic to the parking lot of the Dunkin Donuts to prevent potential accidents.

Here are some other things that have been going on around Bristol and Warren on Tuesday morning.

Businesses 

• in downtown Bristol, two Dunkin Donuts stores and  on Metacom Avenue, and on Market Street in Warren are serving up coffee and breakfast this morning.
• Valero received a gas shipment and is up and running again.
• Power is still out for businesses on Gooding Avenue, including the Dollar Tree and , but is open and running on generators. Businesses south of Gooding Avenue are also closed, including Dunkin Donuts, CVS, and Cumberland Farms. 
• Stop and Shop and Tom's Market are open.
• Bristol and Warren recycling trucks are out and about picking up recyclables.

Traffic

• National Guardsmen are directing traffic at the Gooding Avenue and Metacom Avenue intersection. 
• Police are directing traffic at the Chestnut Street and Metacom Avenue intersection.
• Traffic lights are back on at the intersection of Gooding Avenue and Hope Street in Bristol and through downtown Warren.