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The New Memorial Bridge 2012/2013 -A Rebirth

The Memorial Bridge served as a lifeline between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, Me for nearly ninety years. For many, its deconstruction and removal was akin to bidding farewell to an old friend. The construction of the new Memorial Bridge(referred to by some as the reconstruction) would provide both drama and anticipation until that connection was reestablished.

It was on February 8, 2012 that the center span of the original Memorial Bridge was raised and lowered for the last time. The New Memorial Bridge was officially dedicated on August 8, 2013. Former Portsmouth Mayor Eilleen Foley was on hand to cut the ribbon on the New Hampshire side; returning after having performed the same task some 90 years earlier for the original Memorial Bridge, at the age of 5. The following images attempt to chronicle portions of the various stages of the reconstruction process and provide the viewer a glimpse into how this bridge came to life, at least through the eyes of those of us who had somehow and seemingly breathed character and purpose into this pile of asphalt, concrete and steel.
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  • Morning Light

    Morning Light

    The new Memorial Bridge as seen from Kittery, Maine. The early morning light casts its glow on the Portsmouth, NH waterfront. Interestingly if not mysteriously, this same light also replicates the color of the original Memorial Bridge(span nearest the viewer) and beautifully accents the color of the new Memorial Bridge in its two towers, which was to be named Piscataqua Mist.

    New Memorial BridgePortsmouth NHPortsmouth NH Waterfront

  • The Piers and Kittery, Maine  side approach are progressing nicely.

    The Piers and Kittery, Maine side approach are progressing nicely.

    KitteryMaineNew Memorial Bridge Construction

  • Reinforcing Rods are set in the existing piers and concrete is added.

    Reinforcing Rods are set in the existing piers and concrete is added.

  • Show of Support

    Show of Support

    The American Flag is raised atop the crane head in support of the fallen and injured in the Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombing of April 2013.

    Boston MarathonBombing041513

  • Birth Of A Tower

    Birth Of A Tower

    The South Span of the New Memorial Bridge has been floated in place.

    SouthTowerRising

  • The ebbing tide lowers the North Span onto its bases.

    The ebbing tide lowers the North Span onto its bases.

    NorthSpanFloatin03062013

  • Veiled

    Veiled

    As a dense fog moves in to shroud the South Tower of the New Memorial Bridge an Archer Western Supervisor begins his descent.

    FoggingUp052313

  • Night Shift

    Night Shift

    NorthTower051313

  • Let's Play Catch

    Let's Play Catch

    Iron workers clinging to the South Span prepare to catch another girder as it is lowered in place. -February 19, 2013

    TowerRising21913CPost

  • Best Seat in the House?

    Best Seat in the House?

    An iron worker atop the South Span waits and waits and waits.......

    .TowerVueLoneWorker

  • Bright Light

    Bright Light

    As the sun sets, it cast a golden glow over the bridge construction site.
    -April 8,2013

    TwoTowersRising40813

  • To the North

    To the North

    A portion of the Center Span, the North Tower and North Span to Kittery, Maine.

    NorthTowertoKittery

  • Changing Skyline

    Changing Skyline

    The rising Towers of the New Memorial Bridge draw a sharp contrast to the rooftops of historic Strawberry Banke.

    TowersOverprescottPark

  • Work progresses nicely on the North Span's approach ramp, the Span and the Tower. - June 2013

    Work progresses nicely on the North Span's approach ramp, the Span and the Tower. - June 2013

    NorthTowerReady061413

  • Tower Top Sheave

    Tower Top Sheave

    Worker's prepare one of the massive sheaves for hoisting and placement atop the South Tower. -May 28, 2013

    SheavePrep052813

  • Up We Go

    Up We Go

    Airborne, the sheave will soon come to rest atop the South Tower of the New Memorial Bridge.

    1stSheaveSet052313

  • Easy Now

    Easy Now

    1stSheavePlaced052313

  • Clouds on the March

    Clouds on the March

    An approaching pattern adds an element of Drama to the scene.
    - April 10, 2013

    BridgeProgress041013Retouch80213tonemapped

  • A Work In Progress

    A Work In Progress

    BridgeStatus051313inprogress

  • Untitled photo

    051413TwilightBridge

  • Center Span Float In,  First Leg

    Center Span Float In, First Leg

    The New Memorial Bridge's Center Span is floated from it's construction site(State Dock) to just south of the bridge where it will await the proper time and tides when it will be floated in place. -June, 16, 2013.

    CenterSpanLeg1061613

  • The Center Span of the New Memorial Bridge resting on the massive jacks aboard the Barge, Cape Cod, as she is floated to her permanent home.

    The Center Span of the New Memorial Bridge resting on the massive jacks aboard the Barge, Cape Cod, as she is floated to her permanent home.

    NorthSpanFloatIn

  • Golden Stair

    Golden Stair

    Awash in early morning light, the South Tower's maintenance Stair takes on a golden glow. -June 17, 2013

    MorningGlow06172013

  • A view From The South

    A view From The South

    The raised Center Span and two Towers as viewed from Portsmouth's historic South End. -June 26, 2013

    MemorialBridgeSouthEnd062613

  • Form and Function

    Form and Function

    Beautiful!

    3374NorthTowerMorningGlow061713

  • 1ST Fourth

    1ST Fourth

    The Portsmouth Fourth of July Fireworks take on a special meaning. This shot is from Kittery, Maine looking toward Portsmouth's Waterfront.
    - July 3rd, 2013

    NewMemorialBridge1ST4TH

  • Old Meets New

    Old Meets New

    The Bronze Plaque and Seals from the old Memorial Bridge were removed, repaired and refurbished and now grace the entry of the New Memorial Bridge.

    OldMeetsNew

  • Everyone Loves A Parade

    Everyone Loves A Parade

    August 8, 2013. The official opening of the New Memorial Bridge.

    MemorialBridgeOpeningParade080813

  • Untitled photo

    NewMemorialBridgeOpening080813

  • Connection Reestablished

    Connection Reestablished

    Though it won't be open to traffic for a while, the connection to Kittery, Me from Portsmouth, NH was finally reestablished on June 17, 2013. The overnight task of floating the center span in place was not only tide dependent, but also required coordination with shipping traffic.

    NewCenterSpanHomeAtLast061713

  • Functional Bridge

    Functional Bridge

    Not yet open to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, now that the Center Span is
    in place and being tested, it must allow for the frequent ship traffic in and out of Portsmouth Harbor.-July 24, 2013

    FunctionalBridge072413

  • Although there was no shortage of dignitaries on hand for the dedication, today's guest of honor was former Mayor Eileen Foley. She will cut the ribbon, as she did for the original Memorial Bridge at the age of five, nearly ninety years ago.

    Although there was no shortage of dignitaries on hand for the dedication, today's guest of honor was former Mayor Eileen Foley. She will cut the ribbon, as she did for the original Memorial Bridge at the age of five, nearly ninety years ago.

    FormerMayorFoleyArrivesForRibbonCutting

  • Photographers leave no question as to where everyone's attention  is focused at this moment, the official ribbon cutting of the New Memorial Bridge.  -August 8, 2013

    Photographers leave no question as to where everyone's attention is focused at this moment, the official ribbon cutting of the New Memorial Bridge. -August 8, 2013

    MayorFoleyCutsRibbon080813

  • High Steel

    High Steel

    This photographer's first view of the South Tower from the New Memorial Bridge.

    NorthTowerFromBelow080813

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