Kittery - Recent in-depth inspections on the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge have revealed accelerated structural deterioration of the bridge railing.
Due to concerns about the crash worthiness of the bridge rail system, and in order to ensure public safety, the New Hampshire and Maine Departments of Transportation are developing an emergency project to install a temporary steel barrier along both sides of the entire 2,800 foot length of the Sarah Long Bridge. It is anticipated that the barrier will be placed on the concrete bridge deck in front of the curb and railing along the existing shoulders of the bridge.
In the interim, traffic barrels will be placed along the shoulders to caution motorists until a project to install the temporary barrier can be developed. It is anticipated that the temporary barrier will be constructed in six to eight weeks.
The Sarah Long Bridge carries the Route 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine.