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The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the East Passage of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island (northeastern United States), connecting the City of Newport on Aquidneck Island and the Town of Jamestown on Conanicut Island. The bridge is four lanes (two in each direction) and is part of RI 138. It is a toll bridge, and the toll is US$2.00 for cars (as of 2006), though tokens are available at a discount for commuters and other frequent travelers.
The main span of the Newport Bridge is 488 meters (1601 feet), ranking it number 63 among the largest suspension bridges in the world, and making it the largest suspension bridge in New England. Its main towers reach 122 meters (400 feet) above the water surface.
The bridge was constructed from 1966-1969 at a cost of US$54,742,000 by the Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas firm, also famous for engineering the modern New York City Subway and the Cape Cod Canal.
The bridge was renamed for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell after his retirement in 1997, but it is still commonly referred to as the Newport Bridge by residents and historians. The bridge is featured on the Rhode Island state quarters.
External links
- Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge page on Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority site
- Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge page on BostonRoads.com