Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Interstate 95 northbound (towards Providence and Boston) from the Newport/Pell Bridge?
Upon leaving the bridge toll plaza follow R.I. route 138 westbound 8.6 miles to US route 1. Take the first US 1 exit and follow route 1 northbound for 3/4 mile. Bear left at the traffic light onto R.I. route 4. Follow route 4 for 9.5 miles, where it will merge with I-95 northbound.

How do I get to Interstate 95 southbound (towards New London, New Haven, and New York) from the Newport/Pell bridge?
Upon leaving the bridge toll plaza follow R.I. route 138 westbound 9 miles to US route 1. Take the second US 1 exit and follow route 1 southbound for 3 miles. Turn right at the traffic light onto R.I. route 138 westbound, and follow route 138 for 12 miles to I-95.

How do I get to the Newport/Pell Bridge, to the Mt. Hope Bridge, and to the R.I.T.B.A. business office?
Please refer to the Directions page for this information.

How much do I save when I buy tokens in bulk?
"Bulk tokens" refers to the availability of 60 tokens (in the form of six 10-token rolls) for $50 in our administration building as opposed to purchasing single rolls of tokens in the toll plaza cash lanes.

When you buy 6 rolls of ten tokens for $50, each token costs $0.83, a lower price then when you buy a roll of ten tokens in the cash lane (which also includes the fare for that passage) for $10, in which case each token/fare costs $0.91. In other words, when you buy bulk tokens at our administration building you receive five more passages on the Newport/Pell Bridge than you would had you purchased individual rolls of tokens in the cash lanes.

Where do I buy bulk tokens?
You may purchase bulk tokens at the RI.T.B.A. business office adjacent to the toll plaza at the end of the Newport/Pell Bridge in Jamestown, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The entrance to the business office faces Narragansett Bay. When the office is not open, you may purchase bulk tokens from the toll plaza supervisor located in the same building on the side facing the toll plaza. See the Tolls and Tokens page for more details.

Why can't I use my EZ-Pass on the Newport/Pell Bridge?
Toll collection equipment at the Newport/Pell Bridge is designed to accommodate the EZ-Pass system. However, we are presently exploring the possibility of installing an EZ-Pass system.

Will the bridge be closed in really bad weather?
Only on rare occcasions is the bridge temporarily closed to traffic due to weather conditions. Although particular circumstances that necessitate a closure may differ, in general, sustained wind speeds of 60 knots in directions north, northeast, south, or southwest will require traffic restrictions. See the Weather Restrictions page for more details.

What do I have to do if my vehicle is overweight?
In most cases you must obtain an overweight vehicle permit from the R.I.T.B.A. prior to arriving at the bridge. Please refer to the Weight Restrictions page for specific limitations on weight, height, and width for vehicles to be taken across the Newport/Pell and Mount Hope bridges.