BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — The town of Bristol has filed a complaint in federal court against the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and the Transportation Security Administration over access to an inspection report on the Mt. Hope Bridge.
The push for transparency comes after Target 12 first reported that RITBA refused to release the full report from a fall 2024 inspection of the bridge, which carries 7 million vehicles between Bristol and Portsmouth annually.
On Oct. 2, 2025, the town submitted a request to RITBA for “the most current report in possession of the RITBA regarding the condition and structural viability.”
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Two weeks later, the RITBA denied the request, saying the document falls under a U.S. Department of Homeland Security “sensitive security information” designation, which requires the TSA to review before it is released to the public…