2026 -- H 8148 | |
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LC003354 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Solomon, and Casey | |
Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 24-12 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Turnpike and |
2 | Bridge Authority" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 24-12-60. Safety barrier on bridges. |
4 | (a) The Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority (RITBA) is hereby directed to design |
5 | a safety barrier and/or safety netting on the Mount Hope Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, the |
6 | Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge, and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge |
7 | (the “bridges”). The process shall be implemented as follows: |
8 | (1) RITBA shall submit the design of the safety barrier and/or safety netting for the bridges |
9 | to the house finance committee and the senate finance committee on or before January 1, 2027. |
10 | (2) RITBA shall issue a request for proposals for the safety barrier and/or safety netting on |
11 | or before April 30, 2027. |
12 | (3) Proposals shall be reviewed and accepted by RITBA, and construction and installation |
13 | of the safety barrier and/or safety netting shall commence on the bridges, no later than August 1, |
14 | 2027. |
15 | (b) Any newly constructed bridges within the state with a deck height of over one hundred |
16 | feet (100′) shall be required to have safety barriers or safety netting. |
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1 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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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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1 | This act would direct the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority (RITBA) to design a |
2 | safety barrier or netting system on the Mount Hope Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, the Staff |
3 | Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge, and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge. The act |
4 | would include several deadlines to ensure construction commences no later than August 1, 2027. |
5 | Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100′) would be |
6 | required to have safety barriers or safety netting. |
7 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC003354 | |
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