North Kingstown, RI – The sixth annual 4 Bridges Ride, sponsored by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, will take place on Sunday, September 16th. The ride will take cyclists from North Kingstown to Bristol via four of the state’s major bridges: the Verazanno Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, the Sakonnet Bridge and the Mt. Hope Bridge.
Cyclists will have an opportunity to pedal across four of Aquidneck and Conanicut Islands’ major bridges on a 26-mile course that will provide stunning views and a tour of some of Rhode Island’s most beautiful coastal communities. 100% of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Save the Bay in their efforts to protect and conserve Narragansett Bay, and the event is produced by Gray Matter Marketing.
All participants are required to register prior to the event, wear a helmet and obey all traffic laws throughout the course. Registration is limited to 900 riders and the ride is more than 80% sold out. Those who wish to participate are encouraged to register online as soon as possible.
The ride will begin at 7 AM at the Park & Ride on Route 1A in North Kingstown. This family-friendly event is open to riders of all ages and abilities. Young riders who can handle the distance are welcome to participate. The bridges vary in height and grade, the highest and steepest being the Pell Bridge with a height of 207 feet and an incline grade of 4.8%.
Local Traffic Impact: Drivers in Jamestown, North Kingstown and on Aquidneck Island should be prepared for slight delays and traffic detours on Sunday, September 16th. State and local police will be setting up traffic detours as early as 4:30 AM. Specifically, traffic in North Kingstown on Route 1A near the 138 junction, and the eastbound on-ramp, will be stopped from approximately 6:50 until 7:15 AM. In Newport, the second exit off of the Pell Bridge (Rt. 138 towards Middletown/Portsmouth) will be closed to vehicles. A detour will be in place from the Newport Police Department. Northbound traffic on the Mt. Hope Bridge from Portsmouth to Bristol will be intermittently stopped as large group of riders are escorted across the bridge by local police.
A ride of this nature requires tremendous planning and the cooperation of all seven communities, their police departments, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Rhode Island State Police and from all participants and volunteers. The Gray Matter Marketing Team, RITBA and all of the event partners are looking forward to safe and fun event!
For more information and to register for the ride visit www.4bridgesride.com.
Online registration will close on Thursday, September 13th, at midnight.
Photo credit Clancy Creative/4 Bridges Ride