Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) bridge engineers closed to traffic the bridge between Berwick, Maine and Somersworth, New Hampshire at 1:30 p.m. today because of the rising water level.
The Berwick-Somersworth Bridge carries Route 9 over the Salmon River. The water level had risen to the beam of the bridge, creating a risk of waterborne debris striking or attaching to the bridge.
MaineDOT bridge maintenance staff will continue to monitor the situation until nightfall and will then return on Tuesday morning to determine when it will be possible to reopen the bridge.
Motorists traveling Route 9 between the two towns will need to use alternate routes while the closure is in effect. For real-time information as to the status of the bridge closure, visit the 5-1-1 Travel Info Web site at www.511maine.org.