R 402 |
2019 -- S 1009 Enacted 06/26/2019 |
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE CLAIBORNE PELL NEWPORT BRIDGE |
Introduced By: Senators Euer, and DiPalma |
Date Introduced: June 25, 2019 |
WHEREAS, The idea of building a bridge to connect the City of Newport on Aquidneck |
Island with the Town of Jamestown on Conanicut Island began, according to Evan Smith, |
President and CEO of Discover Newport and the Chairman for the Rhode Island Turnpike and |
Bridge Authority’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee, in 1940 based on the belief that |
building this bridge would foster increased economic development and commerce to Aquidneck |
Island; and |
WHEREAS, Originally, there were eleven proposed locations for the bridge, which |
fostered vigorous debate. On March 30, 1960, the Senate Finance Committee held an open |
hearing regarding the proposed bridge, and later, then-Governor John H. Chaffee became a |
passionate supporter of building this bridge; and |
WHEREAS, The Newport Bridge was constructed from 1966 to 1969. Bethlehem Steel |
won the bid to construct the bridge at a cost of $18.9 million, all paid for by Rhode Island State |
bonds. The Newport Bridge’s main span is 1601 feet, making it the longest suspension bridge in |
New England. The overall length of the bridge is 11,247 feet; and |
WHEREAS, The Newport Bridge opened on June 28, 1969, with Frank Licht serving as |
the Governor of Rhode Island at the time of its opening. On opening day, more than 15,000 cars |
crossed the Bridge, and in less than a year, on April 20, 1970, the one millionth vehicle had |
crossed the bridge. In 1992, the Bridge was renamed the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, in honor |
of the former United States Senator from Rhode Island, but it is still most commonly known as |
the Newport Bridge; and |
WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will be hosting a public |
celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Newport Bridge on Friday, June 28, |
2019, at Fort Adams State Park, with live music, dancing, food trucks, fireworks, and other |
entertainment amenities being available. Also, the Newport and Jamestown historical societies |
are currently hosting and displaying exhibits celebrating the Newport Bridge; and |
WHEREAS, Since its opening, the Newport Bridge has become an indelible part of the |
culture of the State of Rhode Island and a vital component to the overall economic well-being of |
not just Aquidneck Island and Jamestown, but for the entire State; now, therefore be it |
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
hereby joyously celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Claiborne Pell Newport |
Bridge on June 28, 2019; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Evan Smith, President and CEO of |
Discover Newport, and Chairman of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority’s 50th |
Anniversary Celebration Committee. |
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