Guide to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority records , 1929-2000

(bulk 1966-2000)


Rhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority records
Date range: 1929-2000
Creator: Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
Extent: 4.337 cubic feet other
Abstract: The Rhode Island Commission on Women records consists of the administrative records created during the course of activities completed by the Rhode Island Commission on Women.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Rhode Island State Archives
Collection number: 2001-35

Scope & content

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge precords consist of a wealth of photographs documenting the building of the Newport Bridge, maintenance projects of the Mount Hope Bridge, newspaper clippings documenting the Mount Hope Bridge’s deck project, reproductions of the plans for the Mount Hope Bridge information kiosk, plans and elevation information related to the Newport/Pell Bridge, 2000 and photographs and ephemera documenting the 1929 Mount Hope Bridge opening ceremonies.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series 1. Photographs
  • Series 2. Scrapbooks
  • Series 3. Drawings

Historical note

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority was created in 1954 (P.L. 3390) by the Rhode Island General Assembly as a corporate body with authority to construct, acquire, maintain and operate bridge projects as defined by law. The Authority was created in order to “facilitate vehicular traffic … alleviate barriers caused by large bodies of water and promote the agriculture and industrial development of the state.” (PL. 3390 Sec. 3) In 1963, Public Law chapter 165 amended Title 24, Chapter 12 to dissolve the Mount Hope Bridge Authority and Jamestown Bridge Commission whose authorities and powers were transferred to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. The Authority was responsible for the Construction of the Pell (formerly Newport) Bridge that opened to traffic June 28, 1969.

The Authority is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Pell Bridge between Jamestown and Newport, and the Mount Hope Bridge between Portsmouth and Bristol. The Authority consists of five (5) members, including the Director of the Department of Transportation who is a member ex-officio and four (4) members appointed by the Governor for four (4) year terms.

The construction of the Mount Hope Bridge began December 16, 1927 and was opened to traffic October 24, 1929. The Bridge is a wire cable suspension type with steel viaduct approaches. The total length of the bridge is 6,130 feet with the height of the main towers above the water being 285 feet. With a main span of 1200 feet, the Mount Hope Bridge was once the longest suspension span bridge in New England. (Information Tablet, Kiosk Plan, 2000).

Access & Use

Access to the collection: No special restrictions unless otherwise specified.
Use of the materials: Copyright is in the public domain unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to restrict reproduction of materials due to preservation concerns.
Preferred citation: Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority records, 2001-35, Rhode Island State Archives.
Contact information: Rhode Island State Archives
Rhode Island State Archives
337 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: 401-222-2353
Fax: 401-222-3199
email: statearchives@sos.ri.gov

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: All photographs created by or for the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority excepting photographs relating to the Opening of the Mount Hope Bridge. Those items were presumably in the custody of the Mount Hope Toll Bridge Commission (created 1925 PL 673), transferred to the Mount Hope Bridge Authority (created 1954 PL 3391) and subsequently transferred to the custody of the Authority in 1963. This particular archive of photographs was lent to the Rhode Island Historical Society and the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission for temporary exhibit use sometime before Kenneth Bianchi took over as Director in 2000. The archive was also lent to a private advertising agency, Cote and D'Ambrosio, for use before the deposit of the photographs at the State Archives in April 2001.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Kate Telford.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Kate Telford 2009 February 03
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

Series 1. Photographs
Box 1-3

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1-50 Newport Bridge-Progress
Contents Note: Progress photographs detail the building of the Newport Bridge, 1966-1967 - 8x10 black and white photographs mounted on linen. Includes extensive annotations. Arranged by date and contract number. Photographs numbered.

 1966-1967
Box 2, Folder 1-45 Newport Bridge-Progress
Contents Note: Progress photographs detail the building of the Newport Bridge, 1968-1969 - 8x10 black and white photographs mounted on linen. Includes extensive annotations. Arranged by date and contract number. Photographs numbered.

 1968-1969
Box 3, Folder 1-5 Mount Hope Bridge Maintenance Report
Contents Note: Consists of 20 photographs originally stored in adhesive photo albums with annotations. Preservation photocopies made of photo album annotations and foldered with original photographs.

 1987
Box 3, Folder 6-58 Mount Hope Bridge-Projects
Contents Note: Consists of photographs originally stored in adhesive photo albums with annotations. Preservation photocopies made of photo album annotations and foldered with original photographs.

 1983-1986
Box 3, Folder 59-60 Mount Hope Bridge-Maintenance
Contents Note: Consists of two photo albums. Minimal descriptions. One album of photographs has ink citations noting roll and picture number.

 circa 1990
Box 5 Opening Mount Hope Bridge
Contents Note: 8x10 black and white photographs by Acme, framed by Hutchinson’s Art Shop, Fall River, MA.

 1929 October 24
Box 5, Folder 1-2 Opening of the Mount Hope Bridge between Bristol and Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Contents Note: At the dedication exercises photo shows - left to right- Chief Crazt [Crazy?] Bull, Governor Norman Case, Senator William Vanderbilt of R.I. as the Indians presented birch bark scrolls.
Box 5, Folder 3 Dignitaries and representatives of the Algonquin and Wampanoag tribes cross the bridge.
Box 5, Folder 4 Representatives of the Armed Forces and Algonquin and Wampanoag tribes cross the bridge.
Box 5, Folder 5 Dignitaries, Algonquin and Wampanoag Indians and military personnel cross the bridge (long view).
Box 5, Folder 6 Female members of the Algonquin and Wampanoag tribes cross the bridge.
Box 5, Folder 7 Dedication exercises invitation, framed

Series 2. Scrapbooks
Box 4

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 1 Clippings: News Media-General
Contents Note: Mount Hope Bridge- preservation photocopies of original scrapbook.

 1985-1986
Box 4, Folder 2 Clippings: News Media-Deck Project
Contents Note: Preservation photocopies of original scrapbook documenting the closing and repairs to the Mount Hope Bridge for the deck project.

 1985-1986

Series 3. Drawings

Container Description Date
Oversize 1 Highway Safety Improvements: Mount Hope Bridge
Contents Note: Consists of drawings of the the Highway Safety Improvements, 2000 of the Mount Hope Bridge to Old Ferry Road in Bristol. Includes preliminary Kiosk sketch for the Mount Hope Bridge Highway safety improvements of Route 114 Ferry Road. Shows from elevation and kiosk details. Also includes information tablets (for kiosk) regarding the Kings Philip Trail, Construction of the Bridge and the Grand Opening (October 24, 1929) - photocopy 22x36.

 2000
Oversize 2 Newport/Pell Bridge Plan and Elevation
Contents Note: Newport/Pell Bridge Plan and Elevation, March 2000 - 11x14 photocopy of drawing of plan and elevation of the Newport/Pell Bridge East passage Narragansett Bay.

 2000 March