Critics argued that within a $9 billion annual budget Rhode Island could find $45 million to help fund desperately-need bridge repairs across the state, instead of tolling trucks. But now that the Rhode Works tolling plan is law, the state’s D.O.T. is working toward a launch in 18 to 24 months. This week, Jim Hummel begins a two-part series to see what’s been going on behind the scenes, takes a closer look at the tolling technology and finds out what other states along the Eastern seaboard are doing on their highways.