Memorial Bridge 'Float Out' Pushed Back Again

For the second time in two days, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation has rescheduled the Memorial Bridge "Float Out."

On Monday night, Bill Boynton, the state agency's public information officer, issued an e-mail stating, "The likely time frame during which the Memorial Bridge lift span will be floated out has been expanded to as late as the night of Wednesday."

A few hours later, Keith Cota, the NH DOT Memorial Bridge project manager, told the Portsmouth City Council the float out would more than likely occur on Tuesday night between 8 p.m. and 12 midnight because of the high tides.

Boynton wrote the barge Cape Cod "will be put into place during daylight hours on Tuesday, Feb. 7, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The actual float-out will likely occur sometime within 16 hours following this time period."

Boynton noted that would still be within the 72-hour timeframe mandated by the U.S. Coast Guard for Archer Western Contractors to accomplish the float out of the middle lift span portion of the bridge, which expires at 7 a.m. on Feb. 9.

Boynton wrote that work is continuing on schedule in preparation of this first major event associated with the demolition of the Memorial Bridge. He wrote that two 250-ton cranes on barges, four tugboats, and the Cape Cod that carries four towers equipped with 300-ton hydraulic jacks will be used.

"The process begins with positioning the crane barges adjacent to the navigation channel and the Cape Cod under the lift span," Boynton wrote.

Boynton explained the Cape Cod will be moved into position first before the wire ropes connecting the lift span to the counterweights are cut, freeing the two-million pound lift span.

"The barge will then be moved by the tugs out of the main navigational channel and over to an area near Prescott Park or the Port Authority Pier, depending on the time of removal, to be secured for shipment," Boynton wrote.

Earlier this week, NH DOT officials had scheduled the float out to take place on Monday night between 8 p.m. and 12 midnight. Then the float out was rescheduled to Tuesday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.