Friday, February 22, 2013
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority has contacted the State Police after two men allegedly climbed the Mount Hope Bridge last October and posted the video on YouTube.
Two men, who allegedly climbed the Mount Hope Bridge this past fall and posted the video on YouTube, are apparently keeping a low profile, reports The Sakonnet Times. The incident, which occurred in October, was reported to the State Police by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, according to The Sakonnet Times. The video, which did not show the actual climb, has also apparently been removed from YouTube, according to the article. The Mount Hope Bridge spans Portsmouth and Bristol, and reaches a height of 285 feet. Climbing the bridge is illegal and extremely dangerous.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A motorist called police just before 11 a.m. to report a body in the water near the bridge.
Update, posted 2:38 p.m. on Jan. 30: Bristol Police Deputy Chief Steven Contente confirmed that the body of a 79-year-old female from Bristol was found in the waters near the Mount Hope Bridge on Wednesday morning. Her identity has not been released. Contente said the woman was unresponsive after rescue personnel pulled her from the water, and was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital later in the morning. Her car was towed from the bridge, Contente noted. Update, posted at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30: According to East Bay Newspapers, witnesses reported seeing a woman leave her car on the bridge. The eastbayri.com Web site noted that crews recovered the body about 200 yards west of the bridge. Original story, posted at 12:01 pm on Jan. 30: …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A Barrington man died of "head injuries" after a serious crash on the Mt. Hope Bridge Saturday night.
The state Medical Examiner's Office has released its findings in the fatal vehicle crash Saturday night on the Mt. Hope Bridge. Paul L. Matthews, 63, of Heritage Road, Barrington, died Saturday night of head injuries, reports The Providence Journal. Warren resident Lenor C. Andrade and Portsmouth residents James and Ann Hitchen, and John and Susan Kelchner were also injured during the major crash. None of their injuries are considered life-threatening. State Police Capt. Frank B. Castellone says alcohol was not a factor in the crash, but police are looking into whether distracted driving or a medical issue was the cause. "The investigation is not complete," Castellone said. "We are awaiting the report from the Medical Examiner's Office…
Sunday, December 2, 2012
State Police are reportedly leading an investigation into a fatal crash on the Mt. Hope Bridge Saturday night.
Updated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Motorists were directed to find alternate routes Saturday night after police closed Mt. Hope Bridge to all traffic following a serious motor vehicle crash. Multiple sources from both the Portsmouth Fire and Police Departments confirmed the crash involved a fatality. Information about the victim or possible victims is unknown at this time. According to The Providence Journal, one man died and five other people were injured after a two-vehicle crash around 7 p.m. The identity of the deceased man and those injured have not been released. Multiple people were reported to be injured, according to Capt. Michael O'Brien, spokesperson for the Portsmouth Fire Department. Portsmouth and Bristol Rescues were called …
Friday, October 26, 2012
The Coast Guard is seeking public assistance after receiving a report of an unmanned and adrift boat in Mount Hope Bay.
The Coast Guard is seeking public assistance after receiving a report of an unmanned and adrift boat in Mount Hope Bay near Portsmouth on Friday. The boat was described as: - 8 feet in length - Skiff design - White - Fiberglass hull Aboard the boat were: - Live bait (green crab used for blackfish) - A fishing pole - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Soccer windbreaker jacket with the #23 on it The boat was located by a Good Samaritan who reported it in position 41-39.77N 071-13.7W. Currently, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is in possession of the vessel. Coast Guard Station Castle Hill, Rhode Island Marine Strike Force, local harbormasters, and a MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod are conducting …
Friday, June 8, 2012
The House passed the state budget, leaving in tact a plan to transfer ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge to the Bridge and Turnpike Authority.
In a 57 to 15 vote, the House of Representatives approved the $8.1 billion state spending plan late Thursday night. The legislation (2012-H 7323Aaa and attached to this post) approves the proposal to transfer ownership of the Sakonnet River Bridge from the Department of Transportation to the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority, ultimately anticipating tolls to be placed on the span of Route 24 connecting Tiverton to Portsmouth. The 2012-13 spending plan goes to the Senate, which has scheduled a hearing on it before its Finance Committee today at 3:30 p.m. in Room 211 on the second floor of the State House. Rep. John Edwards (D -Tiverton, Portsmouth) and Rep. Dan Reilly (D - Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport) from Newport County made …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The House of Representatives will vote on the 2013 budget bill on Thursday. Included in the bill is a proposal to toll the Sakonnet Bridge.
Legislators are scheduled to vote today on the budget bill for fiscal year 2013, which includes a provision to toll travelers that cross the Sakonnet Bridge. State Senator Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) has said the toll will hurt local businesses and residents, which is why he is not in favor of the proposal. Dipalma stated he is not optimistic about Thursday's outcome. East Bay representatives are a small percentage of the 75-member House. The House will vote on the budget one article at a time, which will allow for debate and amendment to the individual components. The Senate will vote on the budget as a package. “It’s a challenging situation,” said the senator. If passed, the maintenance …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
A loose stone causes some residents and local kayakers to question the safety of the bridge.
A visibly displaced block at the base of the Mount Hope Bridge caused one local kayaker to question the safety of this span. "How safe is the Mt Hope bridge," asked Bob Obara after spotting the displacement. Obara, a local kayaker, took the picture above at the end of February. Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) Chairman David Darlington says the displacement causes no structural damage to the bridge and is not cause for alarm, reports The Sakonnet Times. The stone will be replaced this season.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The bill would place the new Turnpike and Bridge Division under the direction of an assistant director at DOT.
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Friday, February 17, 2012
The Rhode Island General Assembly recently announced a new piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Richard Morrison. The bill would essentially dissolve the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and move all of its projects to be handled by a division of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. The following is the official release from the Rhode Island General Assembly: If shrinking government and making it more efficient can save taxpayer money, Rep. Richard P. Morrison (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) has a suggestion about where to start. He has introduced legislation that will dissolve the quasi-public Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, moving all its duties and functions to the RI Department of Transportation in a …
Friday, February 3, 2012
A two-vehicle crash in Bristol Wednesday kept traffic at a standstill on the Mount Hope Bridge.
A two-vehicle crash in Bristol Wednesday evening caused traffic to come to a standstill along the Mount Hope Bridge, with some motorists waiting more than 30 minutes to cross. The crash occurred at 5:47 p.m. at 659 Bristol Ferry Road, Bristol. Portsmouth Rescue was called to assist at the scene, according to Capt. Michael O'Brien of the Portsmouth Fire Department. Two vehicles collided, causing front-end damage to at least one of the cars. State Police responded to the scene. Updated at 10:34 a.m. Friday The Sakonnet Times reports several people, including children, were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment of injuries following the crash. Several youth were transported to Hasbro Children's Hospital as a precaution, The …
Deborah Smith
7:37 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Terrible I'm so sorry for her. more ›