R.I.P Memorial Bridge (1920-2012)

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has removed the middle part of the bridge which has connected Portsmouth NH with Kittery ME since it opened in 1923.  Rumor has it that the center span weighed 2 million pounds.  According to the NHDOT website:

The public is welcome to observe the lift span removal and float-out operations from safe nearby locations. While the work zone itself is not open to the public, good views can be obtained from Prescott Park, Four Tree Island, and Peirce Island. Archer Western Contractors, of Canton, Massachusetts is the general contractor for the $81.4 million project, which has a completion date of July 2013 to open the new bridge to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

I took a few pictures today because I happened to be in the neighborhood; but there is ample amateur coverage by locals who have been rushing over to check things out at key stages of the project as the center span was cut loose and lowered onto a barge etc.   You can check out progress in demolition (and perhaps eventually the installation of the new bridge) via the Portsmouth webcam.

For the time being, the powers that be have stuck the central span next to the remaining portion on the NH side. Apparently it will be shipped out to Massachusetts on Wednesday around noon.  

A giant erector set!

Although the local citizenry were not consulted about the design of the new bridge,
they may have a say in how the decorative elements of the old bridge are displayed. 

If you were wondering where to go for all your barging needs...

Side view of a scrap pile

Head-on view of the scrap pile.