PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to back the Town of Bristol in its ongoing legal battle over access to a key inspection report for the Mt. Hope Bridge, adding another voice to a growing call for transparency around the nearly century-old span.

In a 6-0 vote, council members approved a formal letter of support endorsing Bristol’s federal lawsuit against the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) and the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The lawsuit seeks the release of the bridge’s most recent structural inspection report, which Bristol officials argue has been improperly withheld from the public.

The letter, signed by council president Keith Hamilton, emphasizes the shared importance of the bridge to both communities and frames the issue as one of public trust and safety.

“I write on behalf of the (town council) to express their strong support for your efforts in acquiring the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority’s most recent inspection report on the Mount Hope Bridge’s structural condition,” Hamilton wrote in the April 27 correspondence addressed to the Bristol Town Council. 

“At the Portsmouth Town Council meeting of March 23, 2026, they discussed the matter of your Public

Records Requests and subsequent litigation and stand with you in support of transparency and keeping the public informed about this very critical piece of infrastructure to both of our towns.”

The Mt. Hope Bridge serves as a vital connection between Aquidneck Island and the mainland, carrying thousands of vehicles daily between Portsmouth and Bristol. Concerns about its condition have intensified in recent months as Bristol pressed for access to the latest inspection data.

That push culminated in a lawsuit filed in March in U.S. District Court, after a series of denied records requests. Bristol officials had initially sought the report from the bridge authority under Rhode Island’s Access to Public Records Act in October 2025. The request was denied, with the agency citing potential “sensitive security information” and referring the document to the TSA for review.

A subsequent appeal to the Rhode Island attorney general’s office upheld that denial. Bristol then filed a federal Freedom of Information Act request with the TSA, alleging the agency failed to respond within the legally required timeframe.

Security information questioned

At the heart of the dispute is whether a routine structural inspection qualifies as sensitive security information. Bristol officials maintain it does not, arguing that such reports are typically public and essential for ensuring accountability and public awareness.

Portsmouth leaders echoed that concern during recent discussions, noting that residents in both towns rely heavily on the bridge and deserve clarity about its condition.

The letter also copies both the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and the U.S. Department of Transportation, underscoring the broader governmental stakes involved.

While Portsmouth is not a party to the lawsuit, its endorsement adds political weight to Bristol’s position as the case moves forward. For local officials, the matter extends beyond legal technicalities to a fundamental question about access to information tied to public infrastructure.

Bristol’s lawsuit asks the court to order the release of the inspection report and to declare that both the state authority and the TSA violated public records laws. The town is also seeking reimbursement for legal fees.