A Bridge by any other Name will still be called the Sakonnet Bridge

or the "bridge to Tiverton," or the bridge to "Portsmouth." No, it's not exactly IN the 12th, but darn close. You also can't reach all of the Twelfth without crossing it (yes, just a SLIGHT idiosyncracy).
Rep. Rice (and Potsmouth, and Middletown, and Newport)wanted it named after Anne Hutchinson. Rep. O'Loughlin (and Tiverton) wanted it named after Robert Gray. No, this ABSOLUTELY had NOTHING to do with politics.
It was a tough call. It would ordinarily seem prudent to please both sides. But it's the state's bridge, not the towns'. If you looked at everything that the state has named, you'd probably not realize that women existed. And Anne is of major historical significance. Let's face it, few were/are familiar with Gray. I also do believe that Tiverton is building a new elem. school. This would have been a prime opportunity to name it after a historical figure. Now I realize why most communities name buildings after geographic locations, rather than people.
I do find it odd that Rep. Long (Middletown) voted against the wishes of the Middletown Council. I'm waiting to see what our Senator does. She's already "agreed" to the combined name because Tiverton asked her first??? I didn't realize it was a speed contest. Both Newport & Middletown asked her to name it after Anne. Maybe she doesn't read the paper? Doesn't know anyone here to ask? She states "this is one of the difficulties of representing more than one community." Well, duh. No thinking involved here, just go with the first. Sure simplifies the thought process.
I liked the suggestion of the House Majority leader, Murphy, "Let's name it the Hutchinson Bridge & paint it gray." Or Rep. Giannini,"Clearly, we have here a bridge over troubled waters."
You can tell it's time for them to leave. But it ain't over, till it's over.
It should be the Anne Hutchinson Bridge. But we'll still call it the Sakonnet Bridge.