| Newport Bridge | |
|---|---|
Pell Bridge from the Jamestown side, 2009 |
|
| Official name | Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge |
| Carries | Four lanes of RI 138 |
| Crosses | Narragansett Bay |
| Locale | Between Jamestown and Newport, Rhode Island |
| Maintained by | Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Total length | 11,248 ft (3,428 m) |
| Width | 48 ft (15 m) |
| Height | 400 ft (120 m)[1] |
| Longest span | 1,600 ft (490 m) |
| Clearance below | 206 ft (63 m) at mid-span |
| Opened | June 28, 1969 |
| Toll | Cars $4.00 both directions |
| Daily traffic | 27,000 |
The Claiborne Pell Bridge, commonly known as the Newport Bridge, is a suspension bridge operated by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority that spans the East Passage of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island (northeastern United States), connecting the City of Newport on Aquidneck Island and the Town of Jamestown on Conanicut Island. The bridge is four lanes (two in each direction) and is part of RI 138. It is a toll bridge, and the cash toll is US$4.00 for cars (as of 2009). E-ZPass is accepted, and Rhode Island residents with a Rhode Island E-ZPass pay a discounted toll of only 83 cents. Out-of-state residents pay full price, even with a Rhode Island E-ZPass,[2] making this bridge the only toll facility in the U.S. to give a residence discount that isn't limited to the adjacent neighborhoods. The bridge is the only toll road in Rhode Island.[3]
The main span of the Newport Bridge is 488 meters (1601 ft), ranking it number 70 among the longest suspension bridges in the world, and making it the longest suspension bridge in New England. The overall length of the bridge is 3,428 meters (11,247 ft). Its main towers reach 122 meters (400 ft) above the water surface, and the roadway height reaches as high as 66 meters (215 ft).[4]
The bridge was constructed from 1966-1969 at a cost of U.S.$54,742,000 by the Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas company, also famous for engineering the modern New York City Subway and the Cape Cod Canal.
The bridge was renamed for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell in 1992, but it is still commonly referred to as the Newport Bridge by residents and historians. The bridge is featured on the Rhode Island state quarter.
The inaugural Citizens Bank Bridge Run will be held on November 13, 2011. This marks the first time ever that runners will be allowed to cross the bridge. http://citizensbridgerun.com/
Bicycles are not permitted on this bridge, but Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus #64 has bike racks for weekday and Saturday travel.[5]
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