Sakonnet River rail bridge

The Sakonnet River rail bridge was a swing bridge that spanned the Sakonnet River between Portsmouth and Tiverton, Rhode Island, connecting Aquidneck Island to the mainland. It was built in 1899 by the Pennsylvania Steel Company, replacing a previous crossing constructed when the Newport and Fall River Railroad opened in 1864.

Sakonnet River rail bridge
The former bridge in 2005
Coordinates41.638926°N 71.2132°W / 41.638926; -71.2132 (Sakonnet River Rail bridge)
CarriesNewport Secondary
CrossesSakonnet River
Localebetween Portsmouth and Tiverton
Characteristics
Designswing bridge
History
Opened1899
Closed1988 (removed 2006-2007)
Location in Rhode Island

The bridge served a succession of railroads; the Providence and Worcester Railroad took over the line in 1982. The bridge was removed from service in 1988 after a barge ran into it; equipment for tourist railroads on the island has been brought in by barge. The bridge swing structure was removed in late 2006 and the supporting piers were demolished by explosion on February 9, 2007. Only the bridge itself was formally abandoned; the tracks on either side are considered formally active to allow future restoration of service.[1]

See also

References
  1. Karr, Ronald Dale (2017). The Rail Lines of Southern New England (2 ed.). Branch Line Press. pp. 415–418. ISBN 9780942147124.


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