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Memorial Bridge (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)
Encyclopedia
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.
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 pedestrian
s and bicycle
s. 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
. 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.
memorial. Its plaque, above the entrance to the first truss span on the Portsmouth side, reads:
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 When the New England routes were superseded by the United States Numbered Highways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
.
were prohibited. This restriction was lowered to 10 tons on July 10, 2009. 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. It was expected that the federal government will cover 80% of the cost. The rest would have been split between Maine and New Hampshire.
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. 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.
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. This plan was contingent on approval by the full legislature, an agreement with the State of Maine, and availability of federal stimulus funds. 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. Original bridge piers would be reused. The replica would look similar to the original span.
and the Maine Department of Transportation
announced the immediate closure of the bridge to all motor vehicle traffic for emergency repairs. The bridge was reopened on November 20, 2009, following completion of repair work, and was reposted at a three-ton weight limit.
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. Plans for replacement continued to move forward.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
lift bridge
Lift bridge
A vertical-lift bridge or lift bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck....
that carried U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in New Hampshire
In the U.S. state of New Hampshire, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Hampton and Portsmouth. It lies between Interstate 95 and New Hampshire Route 1A.-History:...
across the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
between Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Badger's Island
Badger's Island
Badger's Island is located in the Piscataqua River at Kittery, Maine, directly opposite Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It carries U.S. Route 1 between the states, connecting to the Kittery mainland by the Badger's Island Bridge, and to New Hampshire by the Memorial Bridge...
in Kittery
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
USA. The bridge was closed permanently to vehicle traffic on July 27, 2011, with a replacement to be built by 2014.
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 pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
s and bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s. 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
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
. 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.
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 IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
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
New England Interstate Routes
The New England road marking system was an interstate system of marked numbered routes in New England. The routes were marked by a yellow rectangular shield with black numbers and border. Many shields were painted on telephone poles...
, also known as the Atlantic Highway
U.S. Route 1 in New Hampshire
In the U.S. state of New Hampshire, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Hampton and Portsmouth. It lies between Interstate 95 and New Hampshire Route 1A.-History:...
. When the New England routes were superseded by the United States Numbered Highways
United States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
in 1926, NE 1 was the only route not renumbered, redesignated as US 1
U.S. Route 1 in New Hampshire
In the U.S. state of New Hampshire, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Hampton and Portsmouth. It lies between Interstate 95 and New Hampshire Route 1A.-History:...
.
Bridge replacement
Because of the condition of the bridge, vehicles weighing more than 20 tonsShort ton
The short ton is a unit of mass equal to . In the United States it is often called simply ton without distinguishing it from the metric ton or the long ton ; rather, the other two are specifically noted. There are, however, some U.S...
were prohibited. This restriction was lowered to 10 tons on July 10, 2009. 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. It was expected that the federal government will cover 80% of the cost. The rest would have been split between Maine and New Hampshire.
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. 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
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
America's Most Endangered Places
Each year since 1987, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has released a list of places they consider the most endangered in America. The number of sites included on the list has varied, with the most recent lists settling on 11...
for 2009.
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. This plan was contingent on approval by the full legislature, an agreement with the State of Maine, and availability of federal stimulus funds. 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. 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 TransportationNew Hampshire Department of Transportation
The State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation is a government agency of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The NHDOT is under the executive direction of Commissioner of Transportation George Campbell. The main office of the NHDOT is located in the J.O...
and the Maine Department of Transportation
Maine Department of Transportation
The Maine Department of Transportation, also known as MaineDOT, is the bureaucratic office of the state government charged with the regulation and maintenance of roads and other public infrastructure in the state of Maine. MaineDOT reports on the adequacy of roads, highways, and bridges in Maine...
announced the immediate closure of the bridge to all motor vehicle traffic for emergency repairs. The bridge was reopened on November 20, 2009, following completion of repair work, and was reposted at a three-ton weight limit.
Emergency closure (2010)
On December 9, 2010, the New Hampshire Department of TransportationNew Hampshire Department of Transportation
The State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation is a government agency of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The NHDOT is under the executive direction of Commissioner of Transportation George Campbell. The main office of the NHDOT is located in the J.O...
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. Plans for replacement continued to move forward.
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. 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. Foley served multiple terms as Portsmouth's mayor during the lifetime of the bridge.External links
- Memorial Bridge Webcam - www.portsmouthwebcam.com
- Dedication of the Memorial Bridge; Portsmouth, NH to Kittery, ME; August 17, 1923, pictures from the newsreelNewsreelA newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
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)