Tiverton votes to join toll lawsuit

May 29, 2013 7:25 am

Dee DeQuattro

ddequattro@abc6.com

The Town of Tiverton will join forces with the Towns of Portsmouth and Bristol in a federal lawsuit to block the installation of tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge.

The Tiverton Town Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to join in the effort against to tolls. Last week the Bristol Town Council voted to join the lawsuit.

Wednesday a federal judge will hear a recently filed request to but a temporary halt on the implementation of the tolling system on the newly constructed bridge until the lawsuit is heard.

The Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority says that the tolling system is necessary to help pay for bridge maintenance while residents say the measure is devastating to the local economy.

If implemented Rhode Islanders would pay a 75 cent toll with an E-ZPass transponder. Out of state residents would pay $3.75 each time the cross the bridge with E-Z Pass or $5.25 without one.