Overpass Open Jan 12th Printed from projo.com

Printed from projo.com
Pedestrian bridge opens at train station


01:00 AM EST on Thursday, January 13, 2005


By KATIE MULVANEY
Journal Staff Writer




SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The pedestrian bridge at Kingston Station officially opened yesterday, easing the daily grind just a bit for some commuters.

"It's a lot faster than the shuttle," said John Bushoven, who commutes daily from Boston to do research at the University of Rhode Island.

Since the high-speed Acelas began running about four years ago, travelers had to take a shuttle bus from one side of the tracks to the other. Some commuters scrambled through the weeds, up a hill and across Route 138 when they cut their schedule close.

Now, they can dash up the stairs, over the footbridge and down another flight to catch a departing train.

"It's definitely a good thing," Bushoven said.

The Carlin Construction Co. began work the $4-million footbridge two years ago. Amtrak received approval for the two handicap elevators set in the bridge structure, clearing the way for the yesterday's opening, said Tracy Connell, Amtrak spokeswoman.

The "up and over" bridge opened briefly at Thanksgiving.

The walkway was designed in cooperation with the Friends of Kingston Station to complement the Victorian wood-frame station. It offers views of the tracks extending in both directions. The Carlin Co. built a similar bridge in Old Saybrook, Conn., but the Kingston bridge will be the first of its kind in Rhode Island.

The Friends of Kingston Station will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the coming months.

Katie Mulvaney can be reached by e-mail at kmulvaneXXXXXprojo.com or by phone at 277-7417.


Online at: http://www.projo.com/southcounty/content/projo_20050113_train13.1aa075.html