Mount Hope Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mount Hope Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Mount Hope Bridge linking Portsmouth, RI, to Bristol, RI |
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| Carries |  Route 114 |
| Crosses | Mount Hope Bay |
| Locale | Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Bristol, Rhode Island |
| Maintained by | Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Longest span | 1,200 feet (366 meters) |
| Total length | 6,130 feet (1,868 meters) |
| Width | 28 ft (9 meters) |
| Height | 285 feet (87 meters) |
| Clearance below | 135 feet (41 meters) |
| Beginning date of construction | December 1, 1927 |
| Opening date | October 24, 1929 |
| Coordinates | |
| Mount Hope Bridge | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Added to NRHP: | 1976 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 76000038 |
The Mount Hope Bridge is a two-lane suspension bridge spanning the Mount Hope Bay in eastern Rhode Island, at one of the narrowest gaps in Narragansett Bay. The bridge connects the Rhode Island towns of Portsmouth and Bristol, and is part of Route 114. Its towers are 285 feet (87 meters) tall, the length of the main span is 1,200 feet (366 meters) and it offers 135 feet (41 meters) of clearance over high water. The total length of the bridge is 6,130 feet (1,868 meters).
Its construction was originally proposed in 1920. After a few years of resistance from the Rhode Island General Assembly, the New Hope Bridge Company was incorporated in 1927. Designed by Robinson & Steinman, construction began on December 1, 1927.
Four months before it was scheduled to open, serious structural problems were discovered, forcing the contractor to disassemble and reassemble significant portions of the bridge.
On October 24, 1929, about five months behind schedule, the $5,000,000 bridge was opened to traffic. It was owned by the Mount Hope Bridge Company as a private toll bridge, with the initial toll costing 60 cents one-way, and $1 for a round-trip. By 1931 the Bridge company went bankrupt, and Rudolf F. Haffenreffer, a prominent local brewer, acquired the bridge in receivership.[1]
It remained the longest bridge in New England for 40 years, until the opening of the Claiborne Pell Bridge in Newport, Rhode Island.
In 1971, the Mount Hope Bridge was considered for inclusion as part of the never-built Interstate 895. This plan would have required the construction of a parallel span, and the entire I-895 plan was eventually dropped due to community opposition throughout the affected areas of Rhode Island.
The Mount Hope Bridge has been listed since 1976 with the National Register of Historic Places (Structure #76000038).
It underwent more than $15 million in renovations between 1998 and 2004.
Bicycles are permitted on this bridge, but experienced bicyclists are advised to use extreme caution.[2] The bridge also has narrow sidewalks on both sides.[3]
[edit] Bridge tokens
In 1954, with the company in receivership, the Mount Hope Bridge was purchased by the State of Rhode Island. The bridge's toll was eventually reduced from 60 cents to 30 cents for a one-way trip. It was finally discontinued in 1998, after calculations indicated that the toll was not high enough to cover the cost of collecting it.
.jpg/120px-Mount_Hope_Bridge_token_(front_&_back).jpg) Mount Hope Bridge one fare token, front and back |
.jpg/120px-Mount_Hope_Bridge_commemorative_medal_(1929).jpg) Commemorative medal (front and back) struck in 1929, honoring the opening of the Mount Hope Bridge |
[edit] References
- ^ Mount Hope Farm
- ^ Bike Rhode Island and Guide to Bicycling in the Ocean State 2005-2006, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
- ^ Steve Anderson's Bostonroads.com: Mount Hope Bridge (RI 114)
[edit] External links
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