Morning Notes: Mount Hope Bridge to close tonight for resurfacing project

Published On: August 15, 2025

Newport, good morning! It is Thursday, August 14, 2025, the 226th day of the year. The year has 139 days remaining.

The forecast for today calls for a slight chance of showers, followed by a chance of thunderstorms and showers after 11 a.m. patchy fog prior to 9:00 a.m. Otherwise, there will be a lot of clouds and a high of about 80. 5 to 7 mph south winds. There is a 50% chance of precipitation. A quarter to half an inch of fresh precipitation is possible.

You need to know

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will begin a four-day resurfacing job on the Mount Hope Bridge tonight at 7 p.m., weather permitting.

In order to grind the road surface and apply an ultra-thin bonded overlay from curb to curb, the bridge that connects Bristol and Portsmouth will be closed until 5 a.m. on Monday, August 18.

The executive director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, Lori Caron Silveira, stated, “We are grateful for the patience of the public as we complete this work.” We hope that the advance information will assist people plan to look for other routes that weekend, as we know that everyone will appreciate a smoother travel over the bridge.

Public transportation service will also be impacted by the closure. Route 60 and Route 61x will be detoured by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority during the bridge closure, and service will be significantly limited through Sunday.

During the bridge’s closure, Route 60 will not offer direct service between Providence and Newport. If you have to travel between those cities, you should take Route 14 or Route 24L. While the bridge is blocked, RIPTA will provide additional express excursions on Route 14 after 7 p.m.

On Friday, Route 61x will travel express from Portsmouth Park & Ride to Providence, avoiding Warren, Bristol, and Barrington.

During the shutdown, no emergency vehicles will be permitted to cross. To coordinate communication regarding timing and detours, the Authority has been collaborating with first responders and local authorities in Portsmouth and Bristol.

The project will be rescheduled for a weekend in September in the event of extreme weather.

It is anticipated that the new surface would endure for roughly five years. The Authority’s capital projects for the upcoming years include a complete bridge redecking, which was last done in 1985.

Temporary schedules are available to transit users by calling 401-781-9400 or visiting RIPTA.com/detour. Additional information about the bridge can be found on the Authority’s social media channels and at www.ritba.organd.

What else you should know

Note: As workers attempt to resurface the span that connects Bristol and Portsmouth, the Mount Hope Bridge will be closed to all traffic for four days beginning this evening.

The 78th annual George Washington Letter Reading, which has been hosted at Touro Synagogue for generations, will now take place at the Old Colony House on Sunday, according to the Touro Synagogue Foundation.

At a cocktail reception held at Hibernian Hall on July 31, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Newport County honored Stephanie O. Hanley as their 2025 Lady Hibernian of the Year.

Last night, the Newport City Council had a regular council meeting. More updates from the almost three-hour meeting will be provided throughout the day.

Throughout the week, Newport County offers both locals and tourists colonial walking tours, live music venues, farmers markets, and outdoor activities. The Hellenic Fest, coaching weekend festivities, and the yearly George Washington Letter Reading are among the highlights.Activities for this weekend and this week.

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