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June 29, 2007

State lowers weight limit for Sakonnet River Bridge

After finding steel-truss deterioration on the Sakonnet River Bridge, the state Transportation Department this afternoon is lowering to 22 tons the posted weight limit for a truck that can use the bridge.

Thirty-eight tons was the previous posted weight limit for three- and five-axle trucks and 22 tons the limit for two-axle trucks. The department said the bridge is safe for travel, but that heavier vehicles will need to use alternate routes.

“This weight posting mainly impacts large truck travel,” said Jerome F. Williams, the transportation department director. The department "has reached out to the Rhode Island Trucking Association to help get the word out.”

Regularly scheduled bridge inspection crews discovered the steel truss deterioration, the department said, and repairs will start as soon as possible.

The bridge connects Portsmouth and Tiverton. The affected steel trusses, which are below the bridge and run across it width-wise, not length-wise, are closer to the Tiverton side. Crews will take between six and eight weeks to complete their work.

Construction that might affect drivers will be scheduled for non-peak travel times.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 3:05 PM | Permalink

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