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Foster's Daily Article: Officials don't expect to have to further lower Sarah Mildred Long Bridge load limits
Date: 07/01/09
PORTSMOUTH — While it isn't likely, transportation officials say the recently reduced load limit on the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge could be lowered even more pending their analysis of a recently completed comprehensive inspection of the span.
N.H. Department of Transportation Project Manager Bob Landry said DOT leaders are just beginning to look at the detailed documentation of deterioration on both the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge and Memorial Bridge.
When asked if either bridge's load limit could be further lowered, Landry responded by saying such a determination would need to wait until officials fully reviewed the data from the recent inspections by Boston-based HDR Engineering.
"Anything is possible... we do not expect it," Landry said.
Starting Saturday transportation officials prohibited trucks weighing greater than 20 tons from traveling across the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge due to severe deterioration in the support structure.
The limit for the aged lift span that carries the Route 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, followed a detailed inspection earlier in the month which determined the extent of deterioration on several steel deck support members on the approach spans. Memorial Bridge on US Route 1 is already posted at 20 tons.
DOT officials from Maine and New Hampshire hired engineers to inspect both bridges as part of a comprehensive connections study that will review the transportation needs between Portsmouth and Kittery.
Landry said the "physical" inspections of the bridges is complete, but he said analysts will now begin to take data and put it into a model to determine the life span and most pressing concerns involving the bridges.
He said assessing their condition will include the reviewing of more than 4,000 photos taken of the bridges structural components.
Landry said the inspections showed that the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge was in worse shape than DOT officials thought.
He has said problems have resulted from deterioration caused by salt water coming off the roadway through the expansion joints and causing damage to the steel.
Bridge maintenance crews from the DOT are expected to start necessary repairs to the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge as soon as possible, but Landry said the initial three-week estimate for having the structure reinforced might take longer.
The bridge is expected to remain open to vehicular traffic and marine operations will not be affected by the repair work, say officials.
During the 20-ton posting period, trucks exceeding the limit will have to cross between Maine and New Hampshire on the Interstate 95 "high level" bridge.
Landry said DOT officials are currently working on opening up a ramp near Albacore Park so that trucks might access Route 1 bypass businesses and have access to I-95 via Market Street. He said such a plan would require the elimination of a median strip.
DOT officials say the opening up of the ramp near Albacore Park would eliminate the need for trucks to turn around on the Route 1 bypass exit that leads to a tight and busy intersection on Maplewood Avenue.