Mount Hope Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Hope Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 41°38′23.59″N 71°15′29.54″W / 41.6398861°N 71.2582056°W |
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Mount Hope Bridge
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 Location in Rhode Island
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| 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 begin | December 1, 1927 |
| Opened | October 24, 1929 |
The Mount Hope Bridge is a cool two-lane bridge in Rhode Island. It stretches across Mount Hope Bay, connecting the towns of Portsmouth and Bristol. This bridge is part of Route 114. It's a type of bridge called a suspension bridge, which means its road hangs from strong cables supported by tall towers. The towers are 285 feet (87 m) high, and the main part of the bridge is 1,200 feet (366 m) long. Boats can pass underneath with 135 feet (41 m) of space. The whole bridge is 6,130 feet (1,868 m) long!
Building the Mount Hope Bridge
Before the Mount Hope Bridge was built, people used a ferry to travel between Bristol and Portsmouth. You can still see the old Bristol Ferry Light from 1855 near the bridge.
The idea for the Mount Hope Bridge came up in 1920. A company called the New Hope Bridge Company was formed in 1927. Construction began on December 1, 1927. The bridge was designed by engineers Robinson & Steinman.
Just four months before the bridge was supposed to open, some serious problems were found. Workers had to take apart and rebuild parts of the bridge.
The Mount Hope Bridge officially opened on October 24, 1929. A man named William Henry Vanderbilt III gave a speech at the opening ceremony. The bridge cost $5,000,000 to build. Five days after it opened, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 happened, which was a big financial crisis.
The Mount Hope Bridge was first owned by a private company. It was a toll bridge, meaning drivers had to pay to cross it. The first toll was 60 cents for a one-way trip or $1 for a round-trip. By 1931, the bridge company went bankrupt. A local business leader, Rudolf F. Haffenreffer, then bought the bridge.
For 40 years, the Mount Hope Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in New England. That changed when the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge opened a few miles away in Newport, Rhode Island.
In 1976, the Mount Hope Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical landmark. Between 1998 and 2004, the bridge had over $15 million in repairs and updates.
Using the Bridge Today
Bicycles are allowed on the Mount Hope Bridge, but riders should be very careful. The bridge also has narrow sidewalks on both sides. However, people are not allowed to walk across the bridge.
The bridge is close to the East Bay Bikeway, a bike path that goes from Providence to Bristol. The state of Rhode Island considers the bridge a continuation of this bike route. However, it doesn't have a special lane for bikes, so signs ask drivers to "share the road." There are plans to build a separate bike path that will cross the bridge and continue to Newport.
Bridge Tokens
The State of Rhode Island bought the Mount Hope Bridge in 1954. The toll was eventually lowered from 60 cents to 30 cents for a one-way trip. The toll was finally stopped in 1998. This happened because it cost more money to collect the tolls than the tolls brought in!
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Mount Hope Bridge one fare token, front and back
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Commemorative medal (front and back) struck in 1929, honoring the opening of the Mount Hope Bridge
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