Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A motorist called police just before 11 am 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
State Police are looking into whether distracted driving was involved in Saturday's crash, as well as any medical issues. The crash remains under investigation.
State Police say "alcohol" was not a factor in a head-on crash that resulted in the death of a Barrington man and injured several others Saturday night. Paul L. Matthews, 63, of Heritage Road, Barrington, died Saturday night after a head-on collision occurred on the Mt. Hope Bridge. 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 …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Residents continue to voice opposition to this plan even after the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority tabled its talks Wednesday.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
On Wednesday, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority board of directors voted unanimously to table a discussion on a proposal to ask the General Assembly to approve tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge. The board voted to postpone this discussion until its next meeting on Feb. 8. However, local residents are still voicing opposition to this proposal. The following comments were made Wednesday on Facebook when we asked: Do you think there should be tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge? Paula Wallace - No. They took the toll booths down years ago. It makes no sense to bring them back. They are antiquated. It would cost too much money. They should find a better way. How about a lottery game called " Mega Millions Mt Hope Bridge"! Carol Drew …
Friday, October 7, 2011
Should a tolls be introduced on the Mount Hope Bridge? The public weighed-in on their thoughts on Thursday evening at a public hearing.
At a public hearing held at Portsmouth High School on Thursday evening, residents weighed-in on the proposal by Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) to re-introduce tolls to the Mount Hope Bridge that is estimated to cover a $63 million budget shortfall. The alternative solution, which has been looked at by RITBA, would be to raise the rates of the Newport Pell Bridge. State Senator Christopher S. Ottiano (R-Dist. 11, Bristol, Portsmouth), who attended the hearing, said he is currently opposed to the Mount Hope Bridge toll. “We all use all of these bridges,” Ottiano said. The idea that someone in one town uses something and someone else is paying for it a la-carte taxation.” Since tolls were removed from the Mount Hope …
Jacobs Engineering on Thursday presented background on the financial study behind the Mount Hope Bridge toll proposal.
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) on Thursday continued its discussion with the public about proposed tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge. The proposal, RITBA says, would close a $63 million budget shortfall created by capital improvement projects required over the next 10 years. During the hearing at Portsmouth High School, Rick Gobeille from Jacobs Engineering Group (Jacobs), the consulting company retained by RITBA to conduct a feasibility study, presented the background of the problem. In the 1960s, RITBA implemented a toll of 30 cents for passenger vehicles and 10 cents for commuters. This toll schedule was in place until May 1, 1998, when tolls were removed on the Mount Hope Bridge. Gobeille said a primary factor in …
Thursday, October 6, 2011
According to a Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority plan, out-of-state drivers would pay $2.50 to cross the Mt. Hope Bridge.
If you use an EZ Pass to cross the Mt. Hope Bridge, it could cost you 52 cents per trip soon. If you don't, it could cost you $3.25 per trip soon. Those are the options on the table, as revealed during a public hearing Wednesday night atJacky's Galaxie restaurant in Bristol. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authorityhosted a public forum to answer questions and hear from people upset by the idea of paying money to cross Narragansett Bay between Bristol and Portsmouth. Turnpike and bridge authority board Chairman David Darlington reassured residents that the board "has not made a decision about retolling the Mt. Hope Bridge." However, he did admit that tolls, whether they are collected on the Mt. Hope Bridge or the Pell Bridge in …
The meetings follow two this week in Bristol and Portsmouth.
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) announced today that it will hold two additional public hearings this month to continue its conversation with the public about its revenue needs and tolling options. RITBA held its first session Wednesday night in Bristol, where approximately 100 residents came out, many to express displeasure with a proposal to add tolling back to the Mt. Hope Bridge. Another session is being held tonight at 7 p.m. at Portsmouth High School. The additional meetings will be at the following locations: At the Bristol meeting last night, RITBA Chairman David Darlington discussed the reality that the tolls on the Pell Bridge are the authority's only source of revenue. According to Darlington, they don't …
Rick Shovelton
2:09 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
The problem is gas taxes do not pay a cent towards bridge repair. All repairs are paid for by the Pell bridge revenue. We need that toll plaza at the Conn/Ri border. Anybody who travels 95 can see that 75% of cars are from out of state. They are the ones who are riding for free. I,ll bet that out of a hundred out of state cars that 99% do not spend a dime in this state. Mt Hope bridge tolls are a… more ›