The Governor and Executive Council are expected to approve a contract for replacement of the Memorial Bridge between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine.
If approved, the bridge will be in place by July 2013. The total price tag is $81 million dollars. New Hampshire, Maine and the Federal Government will split the cost. Speaking at a Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Project Manager Keith Coda with DOT said the new bridge will closely replicate the old span.
"We certainly didn't want to replace the bridge with something that wouldn't look good for the area," Coda said. "We wanted something that is consistent and works with the historic setting of the river itself."
Some groups, including a Seacoast area bicycle organization, say they're concerned that a free shuttle service, to be operated hourly after the present bridge is demolished, won't handle their needs. This was the first of two public meetings scheduled in the city by the D.O.T.
