Following a £3 million refurbishment, it reopened in 1995. The bridge, part of RI 138, connects the City of Newport on Aquidneck Island and the Town of Jamestown on Conanicut Island, and is named for longtime Rhode Island U.S. senator Claiborne Pell who lived in Newport. Also known as the Newport Bridge, this water crossing serves as a gateway to the historic city of Newport. [10] The ceremony included a U.S. Coast Guard flyover salute, a fireboat shooting water into the air, and two ribbon-cuttings. Sie ist eine mautpflichtige Brücke, deren Maut 4$ für Autos beträgt (Stand: 2019). [16], The building of the bridge changed Conanicut Island's lifestyle and economy significantly. Die Brücke hat vier Fahrstreifen (zwei in jede Richtung) und ist Teil der Rhode Island State Route 138. Diese Seite wurde zuletzt am 6. The centre is open at weekends. The overall length of the bridge is 3,428 meters (11,247 ft). [17] After the bridge it has become a more wealthy community whose residents now commute to jobs and opportunities in neighboring towns. The final day that tokens were accepted on the bridge was December 31, 2009. Die Brücke wurde von 1966 bis 1969 von der Parsons Brinckerhoff Company gebaut und kostete 54.742.000 $. [15] A documentary on the construction and history of the bridge, titled The Newport Bridge: A Rhode Island Icon, debuted on Rhode Island PBS on December 4. A roll of 9 bridge crossing tokens could be purchased for $10 (plus one free crossing) bringing the effective price per crossing $1, available to anyone. It re-opened on 30 July 2010. The new lanes opened to traffic on June 22, in time for the America's Cup sailing race being held in Newport. Die Brücke ist auf den State Quarters von Rhode Island abgebildet. Power to propel the transporter platform or gondola is provided by two 35 hp (26.1 kW) electric motors, which in turn drive a large winch, situated in an elevated winding house at the eastern end of the bridge. [6] £1.225 million was spent on refurbishment, financed by grants from the Welsh Government, Newport City Council and Cadw. [15] On June 28, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the lawn of nearby Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina. It is one of fewer than 10 transporter bridges that remain in use worldwide; only a few dozen were ever built. The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge is a toll bridge, and the cash toll is US$4.00 for cars (as of 2015). It also utilizes approximately 1,400 long tons (1,400 tonnes) of steel compared to 2,600 long tons (2,600 t) used to construct Middlesbrough's Transporter (not accounting for steel used in foundations or concrete anchors)[citation needed]. Its main towers reach 122 meters (400 ft) above the water surface, and the roadway height reaches as high as 66 meters (215 ft). The bridge was designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin. On a clear day, the bridge's towers are visible from the observation plaza at the Gay Head Light in Aquinnah on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard, from the upper floors of skyscrapers in Providence (approximately 22 miles), and as far northwest as the parking lot of Stone Hill Marketplace in Johnston, RI (approximately 23 miles). [2], Newport Museum holds a silver cigar cutter which was presented to Viscount Tredegar on the day of the opening, as a memento of the occasion. Today, the bridge is considered an “iconic symbol” of the city of Newport, particularly as a mark of its industrial heritage.[5]. The Claiborne Pell Bridge, commonly known as the Newport Bridge, is a suspension bridge operated by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority that spans the East Passage of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island (northeastern United States). The span between the centres of the towers is 196.56 m (644.9 ft), and the clearance between the towers is quoted as being 180.44 m (592.0 ft); however, including the cantilevered sections, the main girder truss gives the bridge an overall length of 236 m (774.3 ft). However, on June 15, 2012 this plan was abolished as Rhode Island lawmakers approved tolls to be added to the newly built Sakonnet River Bridge in the future. It is used for charity events such as sponsored abseils. In the spring of 2012, the Bridge Authority brought Open Road Tolling to the Pell bridge, allowing drivers with E-ZPass to pass through a special E-ZPass only toll lane at 40 mph. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. It was the focal point of the local millennium celebrations of 2000, where fireworks were fired from its length, and has been featured in several movies and television shows. This difference in weight is mainly due to the Newport bridge making use of cables to support and induce tension into its structure to a far greater extent than the Middlesbrough bridge. [1], Die Hauptspannweite der Newport Bridge beträgt 488 m. Damit ist sie auf Platz 70 der längsten Hängebrücken in der Welt und auf Platz 1 der längsten Hängebrücken in Neuengland.