Memorial Bridge (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)

Memorial Bridge
The Memorial Bridge, seen from Prescott Park in Portsmouth
Official name	World War Memorial Bridge
Carries	US 1
Crosses	Piscataqua River
Locale	Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME
ID number	021702470008400[1]
Design	Through Truss Lift Bridge
Total length	366.1 m (1,201 ft)
Width	8.5 m (27.9 ft)
Longest span	91.5 m (300 ft)
Clearance below	39.6 m (129.9 ft)(Lift span open)
Opened	1923
Daily traffic	11000 (2001)
Closed	July 27, 2011
Coordinates	43°04′46″N 70°45′09″W / 43.07938°N 70.75255°W / 43.07938; -70.75255Coordinates: 43°04′46″N 70°45′09″W / 43.07938°N 70.75255°W / 43.07938; -70.75255

The Memorial Bridge is a through truss lift bridge that carried U.S. 1 across the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Badger's Island in Kittery, Maine USA. The bridge was closed permanently to vehicle traffic on July 27, 2011, with a replacement to be built by 2014.^[2]

The lift span can be fully opened to allow large commercial vessels to pass. During summer, the lift section is partially elevated every half-hour between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for smaller commercial and recreational boat traffic. The bridge is the only one of the three Portsmouth Harbor bridges with provisions for pedestrians and bicycles. New Hampshire and Maine designate the bridge as part of their State Bicycle Routes, and the bridge is part of the proposed East Coast Greenway.^[3] Because of the open-grate decking, however, cyclists are required to walk their bikes across the bridge. While the bridge closed to vehicle traffic in July 2011, it remains open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and the lift span continues to operate.^[4]

History

Constructed between 1920 and 1923, the bridge was the first without toll to span the Piscataqua between Portsmouth and Kittery. The bridge was constructed as a joint venture between the Maine, New Hampshire, and United States federal governments. It was dedicated as a World War I memorial. Its plaque, above the entrance to the first truss span on the Portsmouth side, reads:

"Memorial to the Sailors and Soldiers of New Hampshire who participated in the World War 1917-1919."

Originally, the road over the bridge was part of New England Interstate Route 1, also known as the Atlantic Highway. When the New England routes were superseded by the United States Numbered Highways in 1926, NE 1 was the only route not renumbered, redesignated as US 1.

Bridge replacement

Because of the condition of the bridge, vehicles weighing more than 20 tons were prohibited. This restriction was lowered to 10 tons on July 10, 2009.^[5] A rehabilitation project for the bridge was planned for 2009, pending funding. The project was expected to last two years and cost more than $30 million.^[6] It was expected that the federal government will cover 80% of the cost. The rest would have been split between Maine and New Hampshire.^{[citation needed]}

The Memorial Bridge rehabilitation project was placed on hold in 2009 because the winning bid for the contract came in $15 million over the intended budget.^[7] This stalled rehabilitation project together with proposals to demolish and replace the bridge were factors in the inclusion of the bridge in the National Trust for Historic Preservation list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2009.^[8]

On May 6, 2010, the Senate Transportation Committee of the New Hampshire legislature unanimously voted to include $44 million in bonds that, in addition to other state and federal funds, would allow the Memorial Bridge to be replaced without further funding from Maine, which is half-owner of the bridge.^[9] This plan was contingent on approval by the full legislature, an agreement with the State of Maine, and availability of federal stimulus funds.^[9] George Campbell, commissioner of the N.H. Department of Transportation, said at a Portsmouth City Council meeting in 2010 that the bridge was too far beyond repair for rehabilitation.^[9] Original bridge piers would be reused. The replica would look similar to the original span.

Emergency closure (2009)

On October 16, 2009, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the Maine Department of Transportation announced the immediate closure of the bridge to all motor vehicle traffic for emergency repairs.^[5] The bridge was reopened on November 20, 2009, following completion of repair work, and was reposted at a three-ton weight limit.^[10]

Emergency closure (2010)

On December 9, 2010, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation announced an immediate closure of the bridge (effective 12:00 pm on the same day) to all motor vehicle traffic. This announcement came upon the findings of a regular bridge inspection, which led to observations of significant safety concerns. The bridge was reopened to vehicles under three tons on December 18, 2010, following emergency repairs.^[11] Plans for replacement continued to move forward.^[12]

Final bridge closure (2011)

As of July 27, 2011, the Memorial Bridge is indefinitely closed. An inspection cited "too many problems in too many places." There are plans for a replacement bridge to be built, but that isn't expected to be open until 2014.^[2] Portsmouth resident Eileen Foley, who at age 5 cut the ribbon to open the bridge at a 1923 ceremony, is scheduled to be on hand to tie two ribbons for the closing ceremony.^{[citation needed]} Foley served multiple terms as Portsmouth's mayor during the lifetime of the bridge.

Photographs

• 

  Memorial dedication plaque over the Portsmouth entrance

• 

  Plaque naming the bridge's building commission

• 

  A sailboat passes beneath the open lift span

• 

  The Portsmouth end of the bridge

• 

  The three spans from Portsmouth to Kittery: The Memorial Bridge, the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and Piscataqua River Bridge.

• 

  Panoramic of Memorial Bridge at night, as seen from Prescott Park pier

• 

  A 270 degree view of the bridge from the Piscataqua River

References

1. ^ Nationalbridges.com. "National Bridge Inventory Bridges - 021702470008400". http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php. Retrieved 2006-09-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Boston Globe. "Bridge Between NH and Maine Closes for Good". http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/07/27/bridge_between_nh_maine_closes_for_good/. Retrieved 2011-07-27. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes. "Rehabilitation of Memorial Bridge, Portsmouth NH". http://www.seacoastbikes.com/memorialbridge.cfm. Retrieved 2006-10-02. 
4. ^ Deborah Mcdermott (July 28, 2011). "Memorial Bridge is history". SeacoastOnline.com. http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110728/NEWS/107280416/-1/NEWSMAP. Retrieved July 28, 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} NHDOT. "Memorial Bridge Being Closed For Necessary Repairs". http://www.nh.gov/dot/media/nr2009/nr101609portskittery.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-16. 
6. ^ Wood, Roger. "What to do when Memorial Bridge is Under Repair - New Hampshire Public Radio". http://www.nhpr.org/node/10207. Retrieved 2006-10-02. 
7. ^ Darman, David (2009-05-01). "Stalled Memorial Bridge Repairs Frustrate Portsmouth Residents - New Hampshire Public Radio". http://www.nhpr.org/node/24585. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 
8. ^ National Trust for Historic Preservation (2009-04-28). "11 Most Endangered - Memorial Bridge - 2009". http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/northeast-region/memorial-bridge.html. Retrieved 2009-05-13. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} Seacoastonline.com (2010-05-07). "New Hampshire will save the Memorial Bridge". http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100507-NEWS-5070419. Retrieved 2010-05-07. 
10. ^ NHDOT. "Memorial Bridge Reopening Today To Vehicle Traffic". http://www.nh.gov/dot/media/nr2009/nr112009portsmouth.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
11. ^ NHDOT. "Memorial Bridge To Reopen Today Following Repairs". http://www.nh.gov/dot/media/nr2010/nr121810memorialbridge.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-29. 
12. ^ NHDOT. "Tiger II Funding Secured For Memorial Bridge Replacement". http://www.nh.gov/dot/media/nr2011/nr033011tigerii.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-29. 

External links

• Memorial Bridge Webcam - www.portsmouthwebcam.com
• Dedication of the Memorial Bridge; Portsmouth, NH to Kittery, ME; August 17, 1923, pictures from the newsreel of the opening of the bridge (seacoastnh.com)
  • "A Big Bridge and a Little Girl, 1923", J. Dennis Robinson, Aug. 16, 1998. Related article discussing the bridge and girl who cut the ribbon. Her mother, and later she herself, would go on to become mayors of Portsmouth.
• Portsmouth area bicycle/pedestrian trail map (NH DOT)
• "Stuck gate on bridge stalls Rt. 1 traffic"; Emily Aronson, Portsmouth Herald, Sept. 14, 2006
• "A Bridge Too Vital", D. Allan Kerr, seacoastonline.com (opinion piece)