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Sarah Mildred Long Bridge stuck open, maybe permanently

Started by Pete from Boston, August 22, 2016, 09:31:18 PM

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Pete from Boston

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/08/22/bridge-that-connects-and-maine-stuck-upright-position/5dhN820KKl2fS9m2EpoCzL/story.html

This is the middle of the three bridges between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, the lift bridge with road on top and rail beneath.

Apparently it was slated to close permanently in November as part of its replacement project, and that date may just be moved up a few months in light of the current problem.


Alps

I really wonder if they even need to replace it. Local traffic uses US 1, through traffic uses I-95, and there are interchanges on both sides of the river.

Duke87

Quote from: Alps on August 22, 2016, 11:31:55 PM
I really wonder if they even need to replace it. Local traffic uses US 1, through traffic uses I-95, and there are interchanges on both sides of the river.

What about the train track on the lower level?
If you always take the same road, you will never see anything new.

Pete from Boston

Quote from: Alps on August 22, 2016, 11:31:55 PM
I really wonder if they even need to replace it. Local traffic uses US 1, through traffic uses I-95, and there are interchanges on both sides of the river.

The article almost says as much, that there's no problem handling the overflow on the other bridges.  Personally I prefer the Long Bridge to snaking through downtown, but this situation almost always occurs when hitting the liquor store at the rotary before traveling to Maine, which I only do once a year.

Quote from: Duke87 on August 22, 2016, 11:49:54 PM
What about the train track on the lower level?

The railroad serves the Naval shipyard, apparently carrying nuclear fuel (this is not a secret).  I don't know if there is another publicly acceptable route for this.



Dougtone

Per the Fosters Daily Democrat, the current dilemma is whether to reopen the bridge at all, especially since the bridge is slated for permanent closure in November. The questions officials have is if it takes a few weeks just to reopen the bridge, is it worth the cost because they would have to close it again come November.

http://www.fosters.com/news/20160822/sarah-long-bridge-closed-may-not-reopen

KEVIN_224

I was going to link it from Seacoast online...but you guys beat me to it! Meh...I'll do it anyways, since the Portland Press Herald version is behind a 10-free-articles-a-month pay window:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20160822/NEWS/160829857

DRMan


Pete from Boston

Just went by for the first time in a month–the center span has been entirely removed.

DRMan

Update: the new bridge was scheduled to be open to traffic last September 1; the opening date has been pushed back again, this time to May.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20180206/sarah-mildred-long-bridge-wont-open-until-may

SectorZ

Quote from: DRMan on February 07, 2018, 01:34:15 PM
Update: the new bridge was scheduled to be open to traffic last September 1; the opening date has been pushed back again, this time to May.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20180206/sarah-mildred-long-bridge-wont-open-until-may

The part about their being fines for it not being done 9/1/17, yet having no idea to assess the fine, seems like behavior learned from my state...



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