The town of Bristol is pressing forward with a federal lawsuit over access to a June 2024 inspection of the Mount Hope Bridge, arguing that the document’s publication does not erase concerns about transparency or the legal costs the town incurred to obtain it.
What the inspection found
The 530‑page report, posted by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) in response to the suit, catalogues a range of problems on the nearly 100‑year‑old suspension span that links Bristol and Portsmouth — from cracked concrete and corroded steel to leaking expansion joints, broken anchor bolts, worn bearings and potholes. Despite the list of deficiencies, the authority said the bridge still "continues to function as designed."
"The inspection process is comprehensive and identifies even minor maintenance needs long before they become larger concerns," said RITBA Executive Director Lori Caron Silveria in a written statement.
Bristol’s legal challenge traces to the town’s Oct. 2, 2025 request for the inspection report. RITBA refused the request two weeks later, citing "sensitive security information" and saying the Transportation Security Administration needed to review the material before release. Bristol appealed that denial to the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, then filed suit in federal court on March 12.
Why Bristol is objecting now
After RITBA and the TSA moved to dismiss the lawsuit following the report’s release, Bristol filed an objection the same afternoon, saying publication alone does not resolve the underlying issue that prompted the complaint: that officials had to pursue federal litigation to obtain a document they believe should have been released without delay.
Peter F. Skwirz, the town’s attorney with the Providence firm Urisllo, Teitz & Ritch, told News Block by phone that the core grievance remains the burden Bristol faced to secure the inspection. The town has pointed to precedent in which the Rhode Island Department of Transportation quickly made public a 300‑page inspection after the 2023 closure of the Washington Bridge between Providence and East Providence.
- Report length: 530 pages
- Bridge built: 1929 (suspension span)
- Lawsuit filed: March 12, 2026 (U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island)
Local implications and next steps
The exchange highlights a tension that has surfaced across Rhode Island in recent years: balancing infrastructure security with public access to inspection records. For Bristol residents who cross the Mount Hope Bridge daily, the report’s list of wear and tear raises understandable questions about maintenance priorities, timelines for repairs and how RITBA communicates risks to the public.
RITBA said it remains committed to preserving the bridge and investing in its upkeep so it continues to serve Rhode Islanders. The authority and the TSA have asked the court to dismiss the case; Bristol’s objection keeps the dispute alive and leaves the timing of any settlement or ruling uncertain.
As the litigation proceeds, local officials and bridge users will be watching for any follow‑up inspections, planned repairs or timelines RITBA sets to address the items catalogued in the report. For now, the bridge remains open and operating while the legal fight over access to the inspection record continues.
