A plan to place tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge is nothing more than "a failure of leadership," said Congressional candidate Brendan Doherty. 

Doherty, who is running as a Republican candidate for the First Congressional District, held a news conference Thursday morning on the Tiverton side of the new Sakonnet River Bridge.

While surrounded from reporters from various media outlets, the Congressional candidate spoke about how bridge tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge will harm the local economy. 

"It (bridge tolls) is an economic impediment. Those that live in Little Compton and Tiverton might think twice before getting their coffee at the Custom House or their groceries at Clements' Market, or traveling to beautiful downtown Bristol," Doherty said.

"This will hurt the small business owners on Aquidneck Island who depend on the ease and convenience of commerce to provide for their families. It is a failure of leadership." 

Doherty said, if elected, he would work toward three things: 

• Changing the federal transportation formula; 
• Establish a public/private infrastructure bank; 
• Supplement the highway trust fund by leasing federal lands.

To view more from this morning's news conference, view the video above. 

What do you think about Doherty's plan? Do you think it will work? Tell us in the comment section below!