- What Happens When Memorial Bridge Closes?
Bike Route Between Portsmouth-Kittery Without Memorial Bridge
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Memorial Bridge Update
A new shuttle bus service associated with this bridge replacement project will begin operations on January 9 at 5:00 am.The bus will accommodate 12 passengers and seven bicycles and is handicapped accessible.
The shuttle service will run daily from 5:00 am until 1:00 am seven days a week, leaving from Kittery on the hour and Portsmouth on the half-hour. The Kittery pickup location will be just north of Warren’s Restaurant on Water Street. The shuttle will be in Kittery at the top of every hour until 12:00 midnight (last scheduled pickup).
Beginning in Portsmouth at 5:30 am, the pickup location will be at the corner of Daniel Street and Bow Street. The Portsmouth shuttle will leave at the bottom of the hour (i.e. 5:30, 6:30, etc.) until the final pickup is made at 12:30 am and dropping off in Kittery by 1:00 am. The shuttle will then resume four hours later in Kittery.
A new Memorial Bridge project web site will be available later this week that will include a shuttle route map and full schedule.A toll free number will also be available for those who want to comment on the shuttle bus service.
Memorial
Bridge lift operations will continue “on demand” for river traffic for the next
few weeks.Electronic message boards are
in place at the bridge advising pedestrians and bicyclists of the pending
closure.The bridge was closed to motor
vehicle traffic on July 27, 2011.
The Memorial Bridge project will replace the bridge
that carries US 1 over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth and
Kittery.Archer Western Contractors, of
Canton, Massachusetts is the general contractor for the $81.4 million
project.An informational “Open House”
on the project will be held on January 12, 2012 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the
Portsmouth City Hall Council Chambers (1 Junkins Ave.).
Memorial Bridge is History (Seacoast Online article 7-28-2011)
The NH Department of Transportation recently released the Draft FY2013-2022 NH Ten Year Transportation Plan. The plan as a whole includes major cuts and delays to a broad range of projects, due to recent cuts in State revenue and projected cuts in Federal appropriations.
However, the Plan makes disproportionate cuts to bicycle and pedestrian program, cutting the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program by 67% for the coming decade (~$1.3 million/year down from $4.0 million/year). The TE program is the primary source of funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects in New Hampshire. In addition to assuming an across the board cut of 30% in federal revenues, the Draft Plan proposes to transfer a further 50% out of TE for use on general highway projects - mainly the widening of I-93.
A series of hearings on the Draft Ten Year Plan are being held throughout the state in September and October. Turnout at these hearings in other parts of the state has been light to date. If bike/ped safety advocates, trails groups and others are to be successful in protecting what little bike/ped funding exists in the state from these disproportionate cuts, it is CRITICAL that we generate strong turnout for the remaining meetings and/or written comments from folks whose schedules won't allow them to make the meetings.
Come Speak Up for Cyclists:
There are two remaining hearings in the Seacoast Region:
North Hampton - Wednesday, October 26, 7pm, Town Hall
Rochester - Thursday, October 27, 7pm, Rochester Community Center
More information, talking points, and the full Ten Year Plan
Bike Route Between Portsmouth-Kittery Without Memorial Bridge