Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge

The Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge extends 3,428 meters across the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, connecting Newport with Jamestown on Conanicut Island.

Construction of the bridge began in 1966 and completed in 1969, requiring a fleet of 200 workers, tugboats, barges, and underwater support structures.

The bridge received its current name in 1992 to honor Senator Claiborne Pell, though many Rhode Island residents continue using the original Newport Bridge designation.

Vehicles crossing the four-lane Route 138 bridge without an E-ZPass transponder must pay a toll of 6 dollars to support maintenance operations.

The main suspension span measures 490 meters, establishing this structure as the longest suspension bridge in the New England region of the United States.

Location: Newport

Inception: June 28, 1969

Official opening: June 28, 1969

Height: 120 m

Length: 3,428 m

Longest Span: 490 m

GPS coordinates: 41.50306,-71.34028

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:08