2024 -- S 2969

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LC005798

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Ciccone, Miller, Sosnowski, Zurier, and F. Lombardi

     Date Introduced: April 05, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 24-12 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Turnpike and

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Bridge Authority" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     24-12-60. Safety barrier on bridges.

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     The Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority (RITBA) is hereby directed to design a

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safety barrier and/or safety netting on the Mount Hope Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, and the

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Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge (the “bridges”). The process shall be implemented as follows:

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     (1) RITBA shall submit the design of the safety barrier and/or safety netting for the bridges

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to the house finance committee and the senate finance committee on or before January 1, 2025.

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     (2) RITBA shall issue a request for proposals for the safety barrier and/or safety netting on

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or before April 30, 2025.

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     (3) Proposals shall be reviewed and accepted by RITBA, and construction and installation

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of the safety barrier and/or safety netting shall commence on the bridges, no later than August 1,

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2025.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005798

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

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     This act would direct the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority (RITBA) to design a

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safety barrier or netting system on the Mount Hope Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, and the

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Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge. The act includes several deadlines to ensure construction

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commences no later than August 1, 2025.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005798

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