Memorial Bridge (US 1) center span gone between Maine and New Hampshire

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wmur.com/news/30417571/detail.html

The old and rusting center lift span of the Memorial Bridge, which carries US Route 1 over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME, was finally removed early this morning. Local traffic will have to use either the I-95 bridge to the north or a closer bridge which carries ALT US Route 1. If there are no further delays, a new bridge could be opened some time in summer 2013. 

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/251933/314/New-Memorial-Bridge-should-open-next-week

Sorry to bump this old thread...but the bridge in question is now going under final testing and may open next week. Again, it's the new US Route 1 bridge between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME.

[SteveG1988]

So basically, the bridge is a new lift section on the original approaches?

[KEVIN_224]

Yeah, you could say that. Once this bridge opens, the US Route 1 Bypass bridge nearby will close and that will be replaced as well.

[MVHighways]

Yeah, you could say that. Once this bridge opens, the US Route 1 Bypass bridge nearby will close and that will be replaced as well.

I guess I'd better get to the US 1 bypass very soon  to see it.

[Alps]

Yeah, you could say that. Once this bridge opens, the US Route 1 Bypass bridge nearby will close and that will be replaced as well.

I guess I'd better get to the US 1 bypass very soon  to see it.

the bridge in question is now going under final testing and may open next week.

Sounds like you better get there now.

[MVHighways]

Yeah, you could say that. Once this bridge opens, the US Route 1 Bypass bridge nearby will close and that will be replaced as well.

I guess I'd better get to the US 1 bypass very soon  to see it.

the bridge in question is now going under final testing and may open next week.

Sounds like you better get there now.

Mission accomplished. Yesterday.


Oh, and I just heard on WBZ's 10 pm newscast on TV 38 that the new Memorial Bridge is slated to open Thursday afternoon following a ribbon-cutting-type ceremony. http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/08/06/new-nh-maine-memorial-bridge-to-open/

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/252495/314/New-Memorial-Bridge-opens-with-nod-to-the-past
and
http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/nh-maine-celebrate-memorial-bridge-opening/-/9857858/21382772/-/13tf156/-/index.html

The bridge just opened to traffic. A former mayor of Portsmouth, Eileen Foley, who's now 93 years old, helped cut the ribbon on the new span today.

A live webcam view of the new bridge is available, which refreshes a static image every 10 seconds or so:

http://www.portsmouthwebcam.com/index.php/memorial-bridge-weathervane/

[DRMan]

The bridge just opened to traffic. A former mayor of Portsmouth, Eileen Foley, who's now 93 years old, helped cut the ribbon on the new span today.

Cool fact: Mayor Foley also cut the ribbon to open the original bridge, in 1923 (she was 5 then, 95 today). She also tied a ribbon to symbolically close the 1923 bridge. Story and video: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130808-NEWS-130809747

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wmtw.com/news/maine/York-County/memorial-bridge-set-to-reopen/-/9284124/21382456/-/3ayfdz/-/index.html

Here's a story on the new bridge from Steve Minich of WMTW-TV (ABC) channel 8 Poland Spring, ME.