Mount Hope Bridge: Difference between revisions

Mount Hope Bridge
Mount Hope Bridge
Coordinates	41°38′23.59″N 71°15′29.54″W / 41.6398861°N 71.2582056°W
	Mount Hope Bridge
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Coordinates	41°38′23.6″N 71°15′29.5″W / 41.639889°N 71.258194°W
NRHP reference No.	76000038
Added to NRHP	1976
Carries	2 lanes of Route 114
Crosses	Mount Hope Bay
Locale	Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Bristol, Rhode Island
Maintained by	Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
Characteristics
Design	Suspension bridge
Total length	6,130 feet (1,868 m)
Width	28 ft (9 m)
Height	285 feet (87 m)
Longest span	1,200 feet (366 m)
Clearance below	135 feet (41 m)
History
Construction start	December 1, 1927
Opened	October 24, 1929
Location

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Latest revision as of 12:42, 8 May 2024

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 m) tall, the length of the main span is 1,200 feet (370 m), and it offers 135 feet (41 m) of clearance over high water. The total length of the bridge is 6,130 feet (1,870 m).

History

Before the bridge was built, a ferry operated between Bristol and Portsmouth. The 1855 Bristol Ferry Light still remains at the base of the bridge. The Mount Hope Bridge was originally proposed in 1920, and the New Hope Bridge Company was incorporated in 1927, after a few years of resistance from the Rhode Island General Assembly and with the influence of state senator and business leader William Henry Vanderbilt III. Construction began on December 1, 1927, using a design by Robinson & Steinman.

Serious structural problems were discovered four months before it was to open, forcing the contractor to disassemble and reassemble portions of the bridge.

On October 24, 1929, Vanderbilt gave the opening address at the dedication ceremony where a radio link was set up with Washington, D.C.^[2] The $5,000,000 bridge was opened to traffic and, five days later, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 occurred. 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 prominent local brewer Rudolf F. Haffenreffer acquired the bridge in receivership.^[3]

It remained the longest suspension bridge in New England for 40 years, until the Claiborne Pell Bridge opened a few miles to the south 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 projected route.

The Mount Hope Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.^[1]

It underwent more than $15 million in renovations between 1998 and 2004.

In 2007, Bicycles were permitted on the bridge, but bicyclists were advised by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to use extreme caution.^[4] In 2023, the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority disputed that bicycles were ever allowed on the Mount Hope Bridge, and told the Portsmouth Times that bicycles were only allowed during special events.^[5] Bicycling advocates disputed the RIBTA's claim, and noted to the Times that other state agencies had listed the bridge as a bicycle route.^[5] In 2023, signage was placed at the base of the bridge stating that pedestrians, bicycles and mopeds are not permitted.^[5]

The bridge is in close proximity to the East Bay Bikeway which runs from Providence to Bristol, RI. The bridge itself is demarcated as a continuation (not connected to the main bike path and not safe for those with young children as there is no sidewalk for the majority of the way) of that state bike route by the State of Rhode Island, although it does not contain a bicycle lane or separate bike route. Signs have been posted on the bridge urging motorists to "share the road". Earlier discussions of adding a full, off-road bike route to the bridge were cancelled in April 2022. Bristol officials announced that the town would instead focus on creating a town-wide bike network,^[6] with the possibility of turning Thames Street into a shared street.^[7]

The railing along the bridge is only 35 inches (89 cm) and since 2016 there is a dedicated coalition (Bridging the Gap for Safety & Healing) advocating for the installation of physical safety/suicide prevention barriers on Mount Hope Bridge (along with the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, Jamestown-Verrazzano and Sakonnet Bridge).

Bridge tokens

The Mount Hope Bridge was purchased by the State of Rhode Island in 1954, with the company in receivership. 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.

Mount Hope Bridge one fare token, front and back
Commemorative medal (front and back) struck in 1929, honoring the opening of the Mount Hope Bridge

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ "The Rhode Island Historical Society – The Rhode Island Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Rhode Island's history".
^ Mount Hope Farm
^ Bike Rhode Island Archived 2007-10-30 at the Wayback Machine and Guide to Bicycling in the Ocean State 2005-2006, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
^ ^a ^b ^c McGaw, Jim (24 May 2023). "Mt. Hope Bridge ban bewilders bikers". EastBayRI.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
^ Phillips, Bonnie (2022-04-01). "Instead of Extending Bike Path, Bristol Will Improve Cycling Safety Measures on Town Roads". ecoRI News. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
^ "Public Workshop: "Shared Street"". Town of Bristol, Rhode Island. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2023-04-04.

External links

Photograph of Mount Hope Bridge by Kathleen Murtagh
Mount Hope Bridge page on BostonRoads.com
Mount Hope Bridge at Structurae
Mount Hope Bridge Records from the Rhode Island State Archives
Mount Hope Bridge building, opening and maintenance photographs from the Rhode Island State Archives
Report of the Mount Hope Toll Bridge Commission from the Rhode Island State Archives

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.

[2] "The Rhode Island Historical Society – The Rhode Island Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Rhode Island's history".

[3] Mount Hope Farm

[4] Bike Rhode Island Archived 2007-10-30 at the Wayback Machine and Guide to Bicycling in the Ocean State 2005-2006, Rhode Island Department of Transportation

[mcgaw-5] McGaw, Jim (24 May 2023). "Mt. Hope Bridge ban bewilders bikers". EastBayRI.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.

[6] Phillips, Bonnie (2022-04-01). "Instead of Extending Bike Path, Bristol Will Improve Cycling Safety Measures on Town Roads". ecoRI News. Retrieved 2023-04-04.

[7] "Public Workshop: "Shared Street"". Town of Bristol, Rhode Island. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2023-04-04.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Bridge in Mount Hope Bay, Rhode Island}}
-{{Infobox Bridge
+{{Infobox bridge
 |bridge_name   = Mount Hope Bridge
-|image         = MtHopeBridge.jpg
+|image         = Mount Hope Bridge from Portsmouth.jpg
 |image_size = 300px
 |caption       =
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 |closed        =
 |toll          =
-|map_cue       =
-|map_image     =
-|map_text      =
-|map_width     =
 |coordinates   = {{coord|41|38|23.59|N|71|15|29.54|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Mount Hope Bridge}}
 {{Infobox NRHP
   | embed = yes
   | name = Mount Hope Bridge
   | nrhp_type =
   | image =
@@ Line 55: / Line 52: @@
 }}
-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, Rhode Island|Portsmouth]] and [[Bristol, Rhode Island|Bristol]] and is part of [[Rhode Island Route 114|Route 114]].  Its towers are 285 feet (87 m) tall, the length of the main span is 1,200 feet (366 m), and it offers 135 feet (41 m) of clearance over high water.  The total length of the bridge is 6,130 feet (1,868 m).
+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, Rhode Island|Portsmouth]] and [[Bristol, Rhode Island|Bristol]] and is part of [[Rhode Island Route 114|Route 114]]. Its towers are {{Convert|285|ft}} tall, the length of the main span is {{Convert|1200|ft}}, and it offers {{Convert|135|ft}} of clearance over high water. The total length of the bridge is {{Convert|6,130|ft}}.
 ==History==
@@ Line 63: / Line 60: @@
 [[Image:Mount Hope Bridge View.jpg|thumb|250px|left|View of Mount Hope Bridge]]
-On October 24, 1929, Vanderbilt gave the opening address at the dedication ceremony where a radio link was set up with [[Washington, D.C.]].<ref>http://www.rihs.org/</ref> The $5,000,000 bridge was opened to traffic and, five days later, the [[Wall Street Crash of 1929]] occurred. It was owned by the Mount Hope Bridge Company as a private [[toll bridge]], with the initial toll costing 60 cents one way, and [[United States dollar|$]]1 for a round-trip.  By 1931, the Bridge company went bankrupt, and prominent local brewer [[Rudolf F. Haffenreffer]] acquired the bridge in receivership.<ref>[http://www.mounthopefarm.com/Rudolf_Haffrenheffer.html Mount Hope Farm]</ref>
+On October 24, 1929, Vanderbilt gave the opening address at the dedication ceremony where a radio link was set up with [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rihs.org/| title = The Rhode Island Historical Society – The Rhode Island Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Rhode Island's history.}}</ref> The $5,000,000 bridge was opened to traffic and, five days later, the [[Wall Street Crash of 1929]] occurred. It was owned by the Mount Hope Bridge Company as a private [[toll bridge]], with the initial toll costing 60 cents one way, and [[United States dollar|$]]1 for a round-trip. By 1931, the Bridge company went bankrupt, and prominent local brewer [[Rudolf F. Haffenreffer]] acquired the bridge in receivership.<ref>[http://www.mounthopefarm.com/Rudolf_Haffrenheffer.html Mount Hope Farm]</ref>
 It remained the longest suspension bridge in New England for 40 years, until the [[Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge|Claiborne Pell Bridge]] opened a few miles to the south in [[Newport, Rhode Island]].
-In 1971, the Mount Hope Bridge was considered for inclusion as part of the never-built [[Interstate 895 (Rhode Island/Massachusetts)|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 projected route.
+In 1971, the Mount Hope Bridge was considered for inclusion as part of the never-built [[Interstate 895 (Rhode Island/Massachusetts)|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 projected route.
 The Mount Hope Bridge was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1976.<ref name="nris"/>
@@ Line 73: / Line 70: @@
 It underwent more than $15 million in renovations between 1998 and 2004.
-Bicycles are permitted on this bridge, but bicyclists are advised to use extreme caution.<ref>[http://www.dot.state.ri.us/bikeri/ Bike Rhode Island] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030082953/http://www.dot.state.ri.us/bikeri/ |date=2007-10-30 }} and Guide to Bicycling in the Ocean State 2005-2006, [[Rhode Island Department of Transportation]]</ref> The bridge also has narrow sidewalks on both sides,<ref>[http://www.bostonroads.com/crossings/mount-hope/ Steve Anderson's Bostonroads.com: Mount Hope Bridge (RI 114)]</ref> but pedestrians are strictly prohibited from using it.
+In 2007, Bicycles were permitted on the bridge, but bicyclists were advised by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to use extreme caution.<ref>[http://www.dot.state.ri.us/bikeri/ Bike Rhode Island] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030082953/http://www.dot.state.ri.us/bikeri/ |date=2007-10-30 }} and Guide to Bicycling in the Ocean State 2005-2006, [[Rhode Island Department of Transportation]]</ref> In 2023, the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority disputed that bicycles were ever allowed on the Mount Hope Bridge, and told the ''Portsmouth Times'' that bicycles were only allowed during special events.<ref name="mcgaw">{{cite web |last1=McGaw |first1=Jim |title=Mt. Hope Bridge ban bewilders bikers |url=https://www.eastbayri.com/portsmouth/stories/mt-hope-bridge-ban-bewilders-bikers,113028 |website=EastBayRI.com |access-date=26 May 2023 |language=en |date=24 May 2023}}</ref> Bicycling advocates disputed the RIBTA's claim, and noted to the ''Times'' that other state agencies had listed the bridge as a bicycle route.<ref name="mcgaw"/> In 2023, signage was placed at the base of the bridge stating that pedestrians, bicycles and mopeds are not permitted.<ref name="mcgaw"/>
+The bridge is in close proximity to the East Bay Bikeway which runs from Providence to Bristol, RI. The bridge itself is demarcated as a continuation (not connected to the main bike path and not safe for those with young children as there is no sidewalk for the majority of the way) of that state bike route by the State of Rhode Island, although it does not contain a bicycle lane or separate bike route. Signs have been posted on the bridge urging motorists to "share the road". Earlier discussions of adding a full, off-road bike route to the bridge were cancelled in April 2022. Bristol officials announced that the town would instead focus on creating a town-wide bike network,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Bonnie |date=2022-04-01 |title=Instead of Extending Bike Path, Bristol Will Improve Cycling Safety Measures on Town Roads |url=https://ecori.org/instead-of-extending-bike-path-bristol-will-improve-cycling-safety-measures-on-town-roads/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=ecoRI News |language=en-US}}</ref> with the possibility of turning Thames Street into a [[shared space|shared street]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=Public Workshop: "Shared Street" |url=https://www.bristolri.gov/public-workshop-shared-street/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Town of Bristol, Rhode Island |language=en-US}}</ref>
-The bridge is in close proximity to the East Bay Bikepath which runs from Providence to Bristol, RI. This southern most part was renamed  in dedication to one of it's most tireless supporters, Thomas Henry Byrnes Jr., just a short time before his passing. A beautiful stone marker commemorating the day lies not much more than 100 meters from the beginning of the path & overlooking the gem of Bristol Harbor. He was one of three of its primary proponents, along w/numerous other backers. He and the 2 other public faces of the project came up against much opposition, most often from new-'locals'(wealthy NIMBYers). The same people who benefited most in the end, both financially as proximity to the path is now a major selling point contrary to anticipated fears. The increased quality of life is too significant to put a monetary value to it but would've made T.H. Byrnes most happy as a proponent of fitness, especially post retirement. The southern portion, situated in the town he loved and improved through his tireless efforts(political, community, and everpresent upbeat influence is felt & missed every day.
-As of January 2020 neither the bridge or the gap between it and the South end of the EB Bike Path are  safe for most cyclists. Especially for those w/young children. There are no sidewalks for the majority of the way & what passes for a sidewalk on the bridge is not much more than 18" wide & only safe for walking which is unfortunately illegal. It is also under nearly constant year round construction adding to the hazards.
+The railing along the bridge is only {{Convert|35|in|cm}} and since 2016 there is a dedicated coalition (Bridging the Gap for Safety & Healing) advocating for the installation of physical safety/suicide prevention barriers on Mount Hope Bridge (along with the [[Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge]], [[Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge|Jamestown-Verrazzano]] and [[Sakonnet River Bridge|Sakonnet Bridge]]).
-The bridge itself is demarcated as a continuation, although not connected to the main bike path.
- of that state bike route by the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, although it does not contain a bicycle lane or separate bike route.  Signs have been posted on the bridge urging motorists to "share the road".  A full, off-road bike route will be completed in an estimated three years which will cross the bridge from the current terminus of the bike path in Bristol and continue on the other side through the full length of Aquidneck Island to Newport.<ref>[http://ripr.org/post/aquidneck-island-bike-route-pedals-forward]</ref>
 ==Bridge tokens==
 The Mount Hope Bridge was purchased by the State of Rhode Island in 1954, with the company in [[Administrative receivership|receivership]]. 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.
-<gallery>
+<gallery widths="200px" heights="115px">
 Image:Mount_Hope_Bridge_token_(front_&_back).jpg|Mount Hope Bridge one fare token, front and back
 Image:Mount Hope Bridge commemorative medal (1929).jpg|Commemorative medal (front and back) struck in 1929, honoring the opening of the Mount Hope Bridge
@@ Line 101: / Line 97: @@
 *[http://www.bostonroads.com/crossings/mount-hope/ Mount Hope Bridge page] on BostonRoads.com
 * {{Structurae|id=20000565|title=Mount Hope Bridge}}
-*[https://catalog.sos.ri.gov/repositories/2/digital_objects/161 Mount Hope Bridge building, opening and maintenance photographs] from the Rhode Island State Archives
+*[https://sosri.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/SO_3d6a1a09-c4d4-4e9b-aadc-4d981c70d5ce/ Mount Hope Bridge Records] from the Rhode Island State Archives
-*[https://catalog.sos.ri.gov/repositories/2/digital_objects/191 Report of the Mount Hope Toll Bridge Commission] from the Rhode Island State Archives
+*[https://sosri.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/SO_f7f7183b-b542-4077-b934-37b952e34e96/ Mount Hope Bridge building, opening and maintenance photographs] from the Rhode Island State Archives
+*[https://sosri.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/digitalFile_09430b27-8e6a-4222-aa7f-5c1bdb9d6ed4/ Report of the Mount Hope Toll Bridge Commission] from the Rhode Island State Archives
 {{Portsmouth, Rhode Island}}
@@ Line 108: / Line 105: @@
 {{National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island}}
-[[Category:Road bridges in Rhode Island]]
 [[Category:Narragansett Bay]]
 [[Category:Suspension bridges in Rhode Island]]

v t e Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Islands	Hog Island Hope Island Patience Island Prudence Island
Schools	Portsmouth School Dep't Portsmouth HS Portsmouth Abbey School
Landmarks	Battle of Rhode Island Site Greenvale Farm (1864) Green Animals Topiary Garden (1859) Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse (1901) Lawton-Almy-Hall Farm Mount Hope Bridge (1929) Oak Glen Portsmouth Friends Meetinghouse Parsonage and Cemetery (1699) Prudence Island Lighthouse (1823) Union Church (1720) Wreck Sites of H.M.S. Cerberus and H.M.S. Lark (1778)
This list is incomplete.

v t e Narragansett Bay
Islands	Aquidneck Island Coasters Harbor Island Conanicut Island Cornelius Island Despair Island Dutch Island Dyer Island Fox Island Goat Island Gould Island Greene Island Hog Island Hope Island Lime Rock Patience Island Prudence Island Rabbit Island Rock Island Rose Island Starvegoat Island Whale Rock
Major rivers	Blackstone River Pawtuxet River Providence River Sakonnet River Seekonk River Taunton River
Cities & towns	Barrington Bristol Cranston East Greenwich East Providence Jamestown Middletown Narragansett Newport North Kingstown Portsmouth Providence Warren Warwick
Bridges	Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge Jamestown Bridge Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge Mount Hope Bridge Sakonnet River Bridge Stone Bridge

Latest revision as of 12:42, 8 May 2024

History

Bridge tokens

See also

References

External links