Residents protest Sakonnet River Bridge opening

TIVERTON, R.I. (AP/WPRI) - Rhode Island's leaders are celebrating the opening of the new Sakonnet River Bridge.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and other officials formally opened the bridge Friday.

The old bridge was built in 1956. The new steel and concrete bridge opened to traffic last month.

The bridge carries Route 24 from Portsmouth to Tiverton. It's 2,265 feet long and approximately 96 feet wide. There are two 12-foot lanes in each direction with wide shoulders.

Work on approach roads on both sides of the span will continue. Segments of the old bridge have to be demolished before this work is finalized.

RIDOT expects this construction to continue through Spring 2013. The agency expects to advertise for a construction project for the demolition of the old Bridge the same year..

Mariners will find a wider passage under the bridge's center span and the new bridge maintains the minimum vertical clearance over the river of 65 feet.

The state's Turnpike and Bridge Authority plans to impose a toll on the new bridge, perhaps beginning in June.

Today demonstrators picketed the opening ceremony, protesting the proposed toll.