Rhode Island General Laws Title 24. Highways § 24-8-27. “Bridge” defined--Responsibility for structures

(a) The word “ bridge” as used in this chapter shall be a structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, and having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of eight feet (8’) or more between under copings of abutments, spring lines of arches, or the extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes; it also includes single or multiple pipes where the clear distance between openings of multiple pipes is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening.

(b) The state will be responsible for the following related to bridges, as defined above:

(c) The state is not responsible for construction or maintenance costs for bridges or smaller structures it does not own.

(d) Performing inspections or load ratings on any bridge or structures less than eight feet (8’) by the state for public safety does not constitute ownership or responsibility of the structure.