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The original Jamestown Bridge was built in 1940 and
connected the township of North Kingston at Plum Point with Jamestown
Island. The bridge was 6893 feet long and it's roadway was 22 feet wide
consisting of two lanes. It's center Cantilever span was 135 feet above
the water. The original bridge was replaced with a new bridge (The
Verrazzano Jamestown Bridge)
in 1992 . The toll
was 35 cents on this bridge
when I growing up during the fifties. The toll was later removed; however after the new
Jamestown Bridge
was built along with the Claiborne Pell (Newport) Bridge, (completed in
1969) the combined toll was $2.00 without a token.
The Newport Bridge replaced the old ferry which cost a dime to ride
as a pedestrian.
The old bridge has been declared a hazard to navigation by
the U.S. Coast Guard and current plans are to dump the debris from the old
bridge off-shore to create artificial reefs. As of this date, no definite
location has been chosen.
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