Memorial Bridge Design Battle Just Beginning

The Executive Council was expected to award the $81.4 million contract for the Memorial Bridge replacement project this morning to Archer-Western Contractors of Chicago with the design that was presented in Portsmouth last month.

But that does not mean that Portsmouth area residents will give up their quest to get the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to add cables to either side of the two lift towers.

Lisa DeStefano, owner of DeStefano Architects in Portsmouth, said the petition she circulated last Thursday had garnered well over 400 signatures as well as many thoughtful comments in just a matter of days. Her goal was to reach 500 signatures by the time the council votes on the matter this morning, and she was confident it would be reached.

On Tuesday, Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, who represents Portsmouth, said he does not support adding cables to the proposed bridge design because they would be too expensive. He also said he didn't think it would be right to make state taxpayers cover the cost of something that is not needed.

He called the idea of adding cables that are not needed and would require additional maintenance costs "foolish" and "senseless."

As far as changing the design at this stage of the process, Sununu said "there is zero support for it" at the state level.

When the Executive Council meets on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the State House, Sununu expects the vote to award the Memorial Bridge replacement contract to Archer-Western to go very quickly.

DeStefano disagrees. She said the current bridge design is only 30 percent completed and the cables represent one quarter of 1 percent of the total $81.4 million bridge project, which amounts to about $200,000 to $300,000.

She said the cables would also make it easier to provide some illumination because lights could shine underneath the cables.

, several Portsmouth area residents urged the state agency to change the proposed bridge design, including DeStefano. She presented a conceptual drawing that showed cables added to the proposed Memorial Brige.

The petition, presented by the Friends of the Memorial Bridge, states, "Sign here to ask New Hampshire government leaders to require the reconstruction of the Memorial Bridge not cut corners on design and add aesthetic elements to the bridge that will honor its history as a dominant, appealing landmark for the Seacoast – for less than one quarter of one percent of the project cost."

The group also states in its petition that while the current Memorial Bridge included arcs and other features that made it a unique gateway between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, the new bridge design lacks those features.

"The design/build team being vetted to initiate the replacement bridge succeeded in terms of successful engineering and function. However, the aesthetic of the proposed design is utilitarian. The lack of character diminishes this symbol. Without this intrigue, this dominant structure will lose its current appeal," the petition reads.

Sununu said it is unlikely the petition will lead to any changes in the bridge design once it is expected to be approved on Wednesday.

"I know that she would like to see her name tied to this bridge somehow, but it's not going to happen," said Sununu of DeStefano's efforts to have the cables added.

DeStefano said she planned to e-mail links to the petition as well as renderings she created showing the new Memorial Bridge with the cables to the Executive Council, State Senators, and all of Portsmouth's elected officials in the State Legislature.

"I'm hopeful they will listen to us," she said. "My hope is that they realize the community is concerned and that they will do something about it."