The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announces work is scheduled to begin the week of July 23, 2001 on the replacement of lift cables on the Memorial Bridge, which carries U.S. Route 1 over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine.

This work has been deemed necessary following a recent inspection of the mechanical lift operations at the Memorial Bridge. It will involve the replacement of 14 lift cables at the bridge. A total of 16 cables are utilized in the Memorial Bridge lift operation, four on each corner of the bridge. Two of the cables were replaced last October. It's anticipated that one pair of cables will be replaced during each workday.

The work schedule for the lift cable replacement has been set up to minimize as much as possible the impact on Piscataqua River boat traffic. Work hours will be 5:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday through Friday. Normal lift operations will take place between 5:00 pm and 5:00 am.

No weekend work will take place, allowing for normal bridge operations.

The lift span at the Memorial Bridge will be in the up position and the bridge will be closed to motor vehicle traffic on the following days from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm: July 23, 24, 25 and 27.

The Memorial Bridge lift span will be in the down position and open to one lane of motor vehicle traffic from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm on July 26, 30 and 31. Variable message boards and flag persons will be used to alert motorists and direct them through the work zone. Approximately three lifts will be required intermittently on each of these days as part of the cable replacement work.

Cianbro Corporation, of Pittsfield, Maine is the contractor for the $53,000 project.

Telephone:
   (603) 271-3734
Fax:
   (603) 271-3914