By Donita Naylor
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass., expects the strongest wind gusts between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday.
Rhode Island State Police are keeping in touch with technicians who monitor wind speeds on the Newport Pell Bridge and the Mount Hope Bridge, state police Lt. Kevin Barry said Wednesday night.
Authorities will close the bridges to high-profile vehicles such as panel vans, box trucks and empty tractor-trailers when sustained winds blow across the bridge at 58 mph, according to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
The bridges will be closed to all traffic if sustained winds blow across at 69 mph or more.
The forecast at 6 p.m. called for winds from the south at 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 70 mph.