What to do when Memorial Bridge is Under Repair

By Roger Wood on Thursday, January 19, 2006.

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Seacoast residents met with State Transportation officials earlier this week to decide what to do about the bridge that connects Portsmouth to Kittery, Maine.

The Memorial Bridge is in need of major repair, but any large restoration project is likely to seriously disrupt the flow of traffic over the Piscatagqua.

NHPR Correspondent Roger Wood reports.

The Memorial Bridge over the Piscataqua river was built in 1922 to honor those Americans who fought in World War I.

More than 80 years later, the bridge is number one on the state's â€œred list.â€

(Murray 1) :10

â€œFolks have always assumed red list means itâ€™s not safe. Itâ€™s safe. We inspect it every six months. Red list means its on the danger list.â€

That's Department of transportation Commissioner Carol Murray.

The transportation department is developing plans for a complete replacement or restoration of the bridge's center lift span which allows boats to pass underneath.

The span is raised and lowered using motors and counter weights.

Rust and corrosion have taken a toll on the steel, which has already been patched.
To repair it could cost well over $30 million dollars.

Again, Commissioner Murray.

(Murray 2) :17

â€œFunding is the big issue. Clearly the consultants and our folks are progressing this project so the design is going to be ready. Should we get some money that shakes loose from other projects and other sources, weâ€™ll have it ready to go and get out there. This is vitally important.â€

When actual construction does begin, 80 per cent of the funding is expected to come from the the Federal Government.

The other 20 per cent would be split by New Hampshire and Maine, which share responsibility for the bridge maintenance.

The D.O.T. has hired a Boston consulting firm, H.N.T.B., to do the planning work.

The firmâ€™s John Watters said his company is looking at two alternatives for use of the bridge while the center span is repaired.

One would close the bridge to vehicles for 5 months, the other would close it for a shorter time period and allow alternating one-way traffic.

(Watters) :13

â€œRegardless of what we do here, there will be a short duration vehicle closure. Itâ€™s unavoidable. In order to replace the wheels and axles of the bridge, we have to take it out of service.â€

Taking the bridge out of service could mean that Portsmouth would have to develop alternative traffic patterns.

And State Senator Martha Fuller Clark says she's already heard from a number of constituents about the expected problems.

(Fuller Clark) :12

â€œThe City of Portsmouth is going to be faced with constant gridlock, in terms of backup of traffic as you go further out State Street and down Middle Street.â€

Closure would also affect pedestrians and bicyclists.

And dozens of riders showed up to point out that if Memorial bridge is closed, they won't be able to cross the river.

The other two bridges over the Piscataqua prohibit bike riders.

(Wake) :07

â€œThis is the only crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. Automobiles have other options, cyclists and pedestrians do not have other options.â€

That's Cameron Wake, of the Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes Group.

He says many cyclists have been injured riding across the bridge grating so he supports plans for a solid concrete deck when the span is restored.

Two men at the meeting advocated doing away with the bridge altogether, and tunneling under the Piscataqua River instead.

But D.O.T. project manager Nancy Mayville said that option was discarded because of cost.

For resident Steve Pesci, preservation of the Memorial Bridge as it is, is essential.

(Pesci)

â€œThis bridge is not just a piece of transportation infrastructure, but I think it really is a piece of architecture that we represent with Portsmouth, and Iâ€™m glad to see it staying and being improved.â€

Right now, restoration of Memorial Bridge is on a schedule to begin in 2009.

But that could change based on the availability of funding from both states and the Federal Government.

In the meantime, however, it's likely to remain on the red list.

For NHPR News, this is Roger Wood in Portsmouth.