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Sakonnet River Bridge

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Coordinates: 41°38′17″N 71°12′50″W / 41.6381°N 71.2140°W / 41.6381; -71.2140 (Sakonnet River Bridge)
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Sakonnet River Bridge
The new Sakonnet River Bridge alongside the remaining sub-structure of the old bridge.
Coordinates41°38′17″N 71°12′50″W / 41.6381°N 71.2140°W / 41.6381; -71.2140 (Sakonnet River Bridge)
Carries Route 24 / Route 138
CrossesSakonnet River
Localebetween Portsmouth and Tiverton
Official nameStaff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge
RIDOT Bridge Inventory Number025051
Characteristics
Designtruss bridge (1957)
Box girder bridge (2012)
Total length2,982.5 feet (909.1 m)
Width94.2 feet (28.7 m)
Clearance above100 feet (30 m)
History
Built1956
Rebuilt2012
Statistics
Daily traffic40,000
TollNone
Location
Map

The Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge, commonly referred to as the Sakonnet River Bridge, is a four-lane bridge spanning the Sakonnet River in eastern Rhode Island. The bridge carries RI 24 and RI 138 between the communities of Portsmouth and Tiverton, Rhode Island. The current bridge is a box girder bridge that opened in 2012 at a cost of US$120 million (equivalent to US$160,000,000 in 2024[1]). The previous bridge was a truss bridge that was built in 1956 and demolished in 2012 due to severe structural deficiencies. The truss bridge had previously served as a replacement for the Stone Bridge, about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the south.

It became part of RI 24 during the 1960s after the completion of the Portsmouth and Tiverton Expressways. At one point, it was briefly considered for inclusion as part of the never-built Interstate 895. In October 2023, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced plans to remove the rest of the bridge, and have scheduled the project for 2026. The department started demolishing the bridge superstructure in 2018.[2]

In 2025, the bridge was renamed to honor Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts, a Rhode Island National Guardsman who resided nearby and was killed in 2004 while deployed to Iraq during the War on terror.[3]

Tolls

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In 2003, state officials declared there would be no tolls on the bridge. In 2012, governor Lincoln Chafee reversed this decision.[4]

In August 2013 after the opening of the new bridge, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority began collecting a 10¢ (equivalent to US$0.13 in 2024[1]) toll from drivers with an E-ZPass transponder using an open road tolling gantry. Those without E-ZPass were expected to call the Authority's office to arrange payment. The toll was imposed in order to keep open the future possibility of higher tolls due to a quirk in federal law.[5] From August 2013 to May 2014, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority collected a total of $677,570.

The toll was removed in June 2014 and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation stated in 2019 that they would not impose any tolls on the bridge in the future.[6] After the toll was removed, opponents asked for a refund of the collected tolls, and that all tolling equipment be dismantled.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ask Alison: Will the old columns at the Sakonnet River Bridge be removed?". turnto10.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  3. ^ AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND LOTTERY (2025--H 5026 SUBSTITUTE A (Chapter 25-006)). Rhode Island General Assembly.
  4. ^ O'Connor, Kevin P. "Sakonnet River Bridge tolls are gone, but the fight goes on". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  5. ^ O'Connor, Kevin P. (August 19, 2013). "Tolls begin on Sakonnet River Bridge ... and most people are paying the 10 cents". The Herald News. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  6. ^ "RIDOT asks feds to rescind decision allowing Sakonnet bridge tolls". WJAR. April 3, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  7. ^ O'Connor, Kevin P. "Sakonnet River Bridge tolls are gone, but the fight goes on". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
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Media related to Sakonnet River Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

  • Web site containing engineering impact documents for the replacement of the Sakonnet River Bridge.
  • Web site for Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Sakonnet River Bridge Decorative Lighting requests.


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