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The World War Memorial Bridge

The World War Memorial Bridge

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Transitioning From an Old Bridge to a New Bridge!
Written by Bill Moore / Moore Photos
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Here's the story, written large: The Memorial Bridge is closed to all vehicular traffic. This is a work in progress, just like the Memorial Bridge that was built in the early '20s for $1.5 million, linking Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine . . . two populations, two municipalities with war memorials at their end of the bridge, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard just to the east of it. Gate down, red light on: And still the bridge memorializes Granite State sailors and soldiers. The bridge is now closed . . . forever. A plan to revitalize the bridge was discarded on July 27th, 2011, when a safety inspection showed that it could not be made safe for vehicles, so the 12,000 cars and trucks a day that crossed it have had to find another way over the fast-flowing Piscataqua River that marks the boundary line between New Hampshire and Maine. This is the control center: It rises with the main deck when the bridge opens for river traffic. Fortunately, there are two other bridges, the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge . . . and the Piscataqua River Bridge that carries Interstate 95 traffic. No stopping Buddy: This kid can't stop to read, he's RIDING his bike, man! There is one important question that has not been answered yet -- how do pedestrians and those on bicycles or scooters, get from one side of the Piscataque River to the other? Neither of the other two bridges allows them to cross. This gives you a glimpse of some of the rust that plagued, and weakened the bridge. As it stands, preparations are currently being made to remove the old bridge and replace it with a new structure that will look similar to the truss lift Memorial Bridge . . . but the new bridge is not expected to open until 2014. Warren's is still busy . . . despite the bridge closure. Good food keeps drawing them in! Our goal -- over the next two years -- is to photograph, to document the whole process, day by day. It's not only a steel structure, the bridge is a lifeline between two communities, two states! More than a story about cold steel, this will be a story that puts a human face on the venture . . . talking with the architects, ironworkers, supervisors, the guys who drive the roach coaches that will feed everyone during two years of work on the bridge . . . and we'll be speaking with the inevitable Lookie Lous who will be watching. While the bridge is made for commerce, there are pleasure boats that need it to go upstream. Of course, they will have questions, observations, and be creating a constant buzz of their own. Surely, the questions will begin with a single world: Why? Why did the old bridge fail? Why is the new bridge going to look so much (say) like the old one? Will the new bridge be better protected against the hostile elements of salt and moisture? What options did the architect have in making his decisions . . .. The traffic is now stopped, so you won't see anything like this again until 2014. On October 1st, the two communities came together, filling the space from one side of the river to the other in something billed as a Farewell to the Bridge. And, yes, for people who grew up with the bridge, who used it get to work or to get food or to get home, it's important that you be there . . . from 3 p.m. to 8. We'll be there. . . and plan to keep you informed throughout the whole demolition and rebuilding process. Check back here for our ongoing coverage.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 October 2011 )

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