Politics & Government

Should RITBA Install a Median on the Newport Pell Bridge?

Newport City Council will discuss the issue this week

Do you feel unsafe on the Newport Pell Bridge?

Studies undertaken by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) have demonstrated a center median barrier may prevent crossover collisions.  On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Newport City Council will vote on a resolution urging RITBA to take “immediate action” to install a barrier.  

Jamestown passed a similar resolution on Nov. 18.   

Find out what's happening in Newportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Do you support the installation of a median?  This is what locals had to say on the Newport Patch Facebook page.

 

Find out what's happening in Newportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Niko Merritt Yes and YES !!! People drive way too fast on that bridge. I go the speed limit and get honked at.

Hilde Crafts i came over in the rain last night and couldnt even see the lines,,,how about making the line readable

Linda Petrone Yes! it is a very dangerous roadway..People drive like crazy on it..how many have to be injured or killed before the median that was approved is put in??????

Sarah O'malley they should install speeding ticket cameras on there- $100 tickets I guarantee traffic will slow down.

Jolene Munch Cardoza I am totally against installing ANYTHING that would further impede traffic on the Pell Bridge - installing a median (if built in the middle) would not only take up TWO existing lanes but would also SIGNIFICANTLY limit traffic flow in both directions. I feel the bridge is very safe, and the speed limit is conservative enough. If anything, the RIBTA should focus on reinforcing support and strengthening the suspension cables and overall structure of the bridge. But building a new median would stick R.I. taxpayers with yet ANOTHER unnecessary bill, as well as a potential toll increase.

Nadine Ryno Most definitely a median should be installed... are we going to wait for more people to die driving on the bridge???

Lucy Moss People are doing everything but paying attention to their driving these days, that is why we need a barrier, in my opinion.

Rich McDermott It's already claustrophobic on that bridge as it is, putting up a median would only make it worse. The bridge has been there for over 40 years, with only a handful of cross-over accidents. If people would just pay damn attention to what they're doing, instead of texting, driving drunk, etc, there wouldn't be any need for these "keep them in their lanes if they can't do it themselves" barriers. We should all have to pay millions of dollars and be inconvenienced by the construction, because two idiot teenagers drove with their heads up their asses and killed two innocent people, instead of paying attention - and not driving during restricted hours, I might add????? There's nothing wrong with that bridge, if people simply paid attention to what the hell they were doing.

Read all the comments here.   

Tell us: Do you support the installation of a median on the Newport Pell Bridge?  Do you feel unsafe when you cross the bridge today?  


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