In order for the installation to occur safely, the US Coast Guard (USCG) will be closing the Piscataqua River in the vicinity (300 yard radius) of the bridge to all marine traffic for this 5 day period.

The river closure within the 300 yard radius will begin at 9:00am on June 10, 2013 to approximately 9:00am on June 15, 2013.  This river closure is necessary to provide for the safety of all waterway users and the construction workers during these bridge construction operations.

The USCG will enforce a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) that encompasses all navigable waters on the Piscataqua River, surface to bottom, in the vicinity of the Memorial Bridge construction zone.  The RNA is effective within a 300 yard radius (see map below).

Heavy-lift operations are sensitive to water movement and a wake from passing vessels could pose significant risk of  injury or death to construction works.   In order to minimize such unexpected or uncontrolled movement of water, the RNA will prohibit vessels from operating in the vicinity of the bridge construction zone for this 5-day period.

If you are a boat owner and your boat is located within the 300 yard radius of the RNA, you may or may not be able to move your boat in and out of your dock during the 5-day closure period.  You must obtain  pre-approval from the USCG prior to 8:00am on June 10 for any boat movement.  Also, you may or may not obtain approval to have passage under the bridge.   These decisions are regulated by the USCG.

The USCG contact for these matters:  Lieutenant Megan L. Drewniak at the USCG Sector Northern New England.  Phone: 1-207-741-5421 Email: Megan.L.Drewniak@uscg.mil

Any additional inform received from the USCG will be posted on this web site.    Please refer to these official documents for more information:

US Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin

US Coast Guard Regulated Navigational Area(NRA) – Aerial View

US Coast Guard Regulated Navigational Area (RNA) – Nautical Map

“The bridge lighting project is moving forward and we want to continue to update the community on our plans to use energy saving LED lighting to illuminate the memorial plaque, the bridge pier footings, the two towers and center span,” said Peter Somssich, committee chair. “And, John Powell, lighting designer for this initiative will present the vision for a beautifully lighted bridge that will become a Seacoast icon and a point of pride for locals and visitors alike, states Somssich.”

Powell, a well known and respected lighting designer has done the aesthetic lighting for a number of bridges—several in nearby Boston. The project has been well supported by individuals and local companies. “We want to make sure that the enthusiasm for this project continues and it is our hope that these information sessions will help in building momentum,” Somssich added.

View the event flyer: Public Presentation May 8.

And, for more information, contact Jon Di Gesu: 603-770-5731

Concrete has been placed on both spans.   The concrete will be complete on the sidewalks in May.  The steel structure of the Control House, where NHDOT staff will control the operations of the center lift span via computer, is complete and crews are now working on finishing the exterior with wall panels and windows.  Electrical work also continues on the two spans and in the Control House.

Installation of the two counterweights for the bridge, and counterweight sheaves that allow the counterweights to travel up and down inside the tower, will be installed during May.

Installation of utilities such as drainage, gas, water and curb work for the re-built roadways will begin in early May and  work will continue until the bridge opening.

At the N.H State Pier, ironworkers continue to construct the center lift span superstructure, and also in that location, work continues on installation of the motors that will power the center lift span up and down. This work will also continue through May.

While Archer Western management knows this is a highly visible project of great interest to the community, they want to remind everyone that they should not enter the designated work site. This is a very active construction site, and there are many areas for the public to view the work from outside the site.

Bridge Watchers in Prescott Park, 2013  (click to enlarge)

More Bridge Watchers in Prescott Park, 2013 (click to enlarge)

Bridge Watchers, 1922 (click to enlarge)

More Bridge Watchers, 1922 (click to enlarge)

As noted in NHDOT’s press release last week, the bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic this summer. The exact schedule for opening will not be available until a few weeks prior to the date; we will keep everyone informed regularly as we get closer to the opening.

Those who want to receive regular email updates may send a request to Carol Morris, Archer Western Public Outreach, at cmorris@morriscomm.net.

Photos provided courtesy of NHDOT and Portsmouth Athenaeum.

Keith Cota, chief project manager for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), says it’s important to note the exact opening date cannot be pinpointed until about ten days before the bridge will open.

“This is a complex piece of construction,” Keith Cota says.  “We want to make sure the bridge’s lift mechanisms will work perfectly once the bridge is open to traffic.  This will require a significant amount of testing.”

Cota says once the company building the bridge, Archer Western Contractors (AWC), is satisfied the lift bridge is operating smoothly, NHDOT bridge maintenance crews will need specialized training to take over operations.

“This is standard for new bridge construction,” says Steve DelGrosso, AWC project manager.  “While we are working diligently to get the bridge completed as early as we can, we will not turn it over to the DOT until we are completely satisfied everything is in order.  With so many details to complete, it’s best not to predict too far ahead of time.”

Meanwhile the New Hampshire and Maine Department of Transportations are jointly planning a special event at the bridge to mark its official opening.

“This is a much anticipated event and a big milestone,” Keith Cota says.  “We plan to have an official ribbon cutting, and we also want to give the community the opportunity to get on the bridge and just enjoy it.  Initial plans are for the bridge to be first opened to pedestrians and bicyclists.”

The bridge will liked be opened to motor vehicle traffic early the following morning.

“We know many people in the community are likely planning events of their own to coincide with the Memorial Bridge opening,” Keith Cota says.  “We want everyone to know our plans are progressing.”

Cota says any public events taking place off of the bridge construction site will require the usual municipal permits from the City of Portsmouth and the Town of Kittery.

Even though the bridge will be opened to traffic this summer, its approaches and other nearby areas will remain under construction into the fall.  A rededication ceremony for the bridge is expected to take place on Veteran’s Day in November.

“At that time, the commemorative plaques will be unveiled, landscaping adjacent to the bridge will be finished, and the new Memorial Bridge will be totally completed,” Keith Cota says.

Steve DelGrosso says in his experience it’s not unusual to open a bridge to traffic before all of the contractor’s adjacent work is completed, as long as the opening benefits the traveling public.

“Early in the process the NHDOT placed a high priority on getting the new bridge open as soon as possible,” DelGrosso says.  “That’s been our goal since the project was awarded to AWC.”

*******NHDOT Press Release, April 18, 2013*********

With the south span tower at its full height and the north span in place, the shape of the completed bridge is beginning to be apparent. The steel structure of the Control House, where NHDOT staff will ultimately control the openings of the center lift span, is nearly complete, making way for the roof, walls and window installation. Electrical work has begun on the south span and will continue up the south tower and in the Control House.

As the steel structure moves towards completion, construction efforts will begin to focus on the electrical and mechanical aspects of the bridge. Erecting the steel structure is a challenging job; making sure the high-tech machinery that allows the center span to rise for water traffic and lower for land traffic works smoothly is just as critical. While not as dramatic from a visual standpoint, this work ensures the safety and reliability of the new bridge, and is critical to a successful opening.

(click to enlarge)

At the N.H State Pier, ironworkers continue to construct the center lift span superstructure on a barge, just as they did with the south and north spans.  Sometime in June, the center span will be completed and floated into place. Once in place, the lift span will be seen moving up and down between the towers as electrical and mechanical testing takes place. Work will be ongoing on the electrical and mechanical components of the structure until the bridge is ready to be safely opened this summer.

(click to enlarge)

While Archer Western management knows this is a highly visible project of great interest to the community, they want to remind everyone that they should not enter the designated work site. As the bridge becomes more visible, it is clearly tempting for some to move in as close as they can.

The new Memorial Bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic this summer. The final work, which includes completing approach work, the channel fender system, landscaping and cleanup, will take until the end of the year to complete, so some areas will remain out of bounds even after the bridge is open to traffic.

Those who want to receive regular email updates may send a request to Carol Morris, Archer Western Public Outreach, at cmorris@morriscomm.net.

(click to enlarge)

Photos provided by BillMo.  Thanks!

The trip down the river begin at 12:30 am (instead of 1:oo am) due to a change in the weather forecast which predicted high winds in the morning/early afternoon hours.   The span was in place between Pier 3 and Pier 4 by 1:00 am.

Also similar to the south span, Archer Western started with the truss (aka span) jacked up approximately 24-feet above the barge Cape Cod.  At 3:30 am they were approximately 3-feet above the seats on Pier 4 and 6″-8″ above the seats on Pier 3.

The goal is to have the new span resting on the piers by 6:00 am at low tide, then begin dismantling the towers and move the barge out and back to the State Pier near 2 pm.   Work on the 3rd and final span, the center lift span, will begin.

Congratulations!   Great work.   We’re all impressed.

Below are a few photos provided by NHDOT and Bill Moore.     Click on the photo to enlarge it.  Enjoy!

The Archer Western crews will position the barge between Piers 3 and 4. The span will be positioned close to its final location over the piers. Once the barge is in position, the crew will be adjusting the span’s elevation using the temporary jacking system to lower the span onto the bearings on the top of each pier.

The Cape Cod will be moved out from under the new span during the Wednesday afternoon low slack tide and return to the Port Authority Pier. Workers will then begin to assemble the center span, scheduled to be floated in sometime in June.

“The tide and currents dictate that we start early in the morning,” said Stephen DelGrosso, Archer Western Project Manager. “Our schedule does not allow us to wait for a daytime start.” DelGrosso expects the operation to be complete by late Wednesday afternoon.

The new Memorial Bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic this summer. The final work, which includes completing approach work, the channel fender system, landscaping and cleanup, will take until the end of the year to complete.

Enjoy these photos from the past.  Click on photo to enlarge.

(View of Portsmouth / Prescott Park area / Memorial Park from the south tower in 1924)

(View of workers on the tower in 1922)

(View of Portmouth / Bow Street from south tower in 1924)

Those who want to receive regular email updates may send a request to Carol Morris, Archer Western Public Outreach, at cmorris@morriscomm.net.

“I’m excited and looking forward to it,” Eileen Foley responded when formally invited by NHDOT Commissioner Chris Clement, Memorial Bridge project manager Keith Cota, and representatives of the company building the bridge, Archer Western Contractors.  “I feel fortunate to once again be participating in a celebration of a new Memorial Bridge.”

(Click on image to enlarge)

While she would one day become Mayor of her home town, to this day the Foley family has no idea why young Eileen Dondero (Foley) was picked out of the crowd of 5,000 people for the ribbon-cutting honors.  That same day she also was in the group that rode the first draw of the lift span.

“We felt it was very appropriate to issue the first official invitation for this year’s Memorial Bridge celebration to Eileen Foley,” says Commissioner Clement.  “As much as anyone associated with the Memorial Bridge projects, Eileen has connected generations and bridged communities.”

The previous Memorial Bridge crossing the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine was built at a cost of $2 million.  It was dedicated as a “Memorial to the Sailors and Soldiers of New Hampshire who participated in the World War 1917-1919.”

(Click on image to enlarge)

(Click on image to enlarge)

With the new south span of the bridge in place, Archer Western poured the concrete bridge deck last week, using a piece of equipment called a Bidwell, and has begun erecting the south tower.  The steel tower pieces, fabricated by Structal Bridge in Claremont, NH, are being erected piece by piece by a barge-mounted crane located adjacent to the south span.  Archer Western estimates that it will take about a month to complete this portion of the work.

The new Control House that will be located on the top of the south span, will begin taking shape as crews begin to erect the frame of that building.  How exciting!

And, the ironworkers continue to construct the north fixed span superstructure on a barge located at the N.H. State Pier located up river, just as they did with the south span.

Sometime in early March, the north span will be completed and floated into place at low tide, using the same process as used for the south span.

The Kittery Approach structure is substantially complete, with concrete wingwalls, utility work, paving and final clean up scheduled for the spring.

The new Memorial Bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic this summer.  The final work, which includes completing approach work, the channel fender system, landscaping and cleanup, will take until the end of the year to complete.

More information on the bridge construction project can be found on the project website www.memorialbridgeproject.com.  Those who want to receive regular email updates may send a request to Carol Morris, Archer Western Public Outreach, at cmorris@morriscomm.net.

Photo provided by Bill Moore.

“We are pleased to be able to play a role in seeing that this exciting idea becomes a reality,” said PSNH Division Manager Rich Chagnon, who is based in Portsmouth. “PSNH has always played an important role in our local communities. Our commitment to this initiative is a continuation of this role in supporting NH communities. The citizen initiative to illuminate the new bridge with LED technology, and in an innovative energy efficient manner, is one that is deserving of broad support. We can’t wait to see the finished product of this iconic symbol of the Seacoast Area.”

Discussions among community members, regulators and advocacy groups have resulted in changes from the preliminary illumination plans announced last fall. The current design aims the color-capable LED lights on the bridge towers downward from the top, instead of upwards from the bottom. Additionally, plans now call for also illuminating the center span of the bridge when that span is being raised and lowered. The design changes have increased the illumination project cost to about $200,000 from the preliminary $80,000.

“Redirecting the lighting down from above is in respect of the New Hampshire Dark Sky statutes. It will reduce light pollution and possible effects on migrating birds,” noted Peter Somssich, Chair of the subcommittee. “We have also been encouraged by the community to include the center span in the illumination project. These changes mean an increase in the project’s cost, but we’re hopeful other businesses and individuals will follow PSNH’s lead and lend support. Ultimately, the communities of Portsmouth and Kittery will be linked by an iconic bridge that will be admired by visitors and residents for generations to come.”

The Illumination Subcommittee of the Memorial Bridge Project Public Advisory Committee is working to illuminate various elements of the new bridge with colored LED lighting, funded solely with contributions from the local communities and businesses.  The illumination has been designed by John Powell, designer of the illumination of several bridges in Boston.

PSNH also praises the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for using LED lighting technology for the bridge’s roadway and the Bridge Illumination Project.  This approach will assist in promoting public awareness in using energy-efficient lighting to save resources and reduce energy costs.

About PSNH: Public Service of New Hampshire, a Northeast Utilities company, is New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, transmitting and delivering electricity to more than 500,000 homes and businesses in 211 cities and towns. For more information, please visit www.psnh.com, like PSNH on Facebook or follow on twitter@psnh.

Residents and businesses interested in joining the Memorial Bridge Illumination Pledge-Raising effort should contact:  Rose Eppard at eppard@usa.net.  For general information about the project, please contact Jon DiGesu at 603-770-5731 or jondegesu@comcast.net.  Additional information is also available by going to the Memorial Bridge Project website at www.memorialbridgeproject.com and Save Our Bridges website at http://portsmouthbridges.com.