2025 -- H 5776

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LC002084

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, and Donovan

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Finance

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

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a 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, 2026.

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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, 2026.

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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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2026.

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     (b) Any newly constructed bridges within the state with a deck height of over one hundred

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feet (100′) shall be required to have safety barriers or safety netting.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC002084

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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 would include several deadlines to ensure construction

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commences no later than August 1, 2026. Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of

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over one hundred feet (100′) would be required to have safety barriers or safety netting.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002084

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