Maplewood Avenue Bridge Closes July 14

The Maplewood Avenue Bridge over the Route 1 Bypass in Portsmouth will close for replacement starting July 14, according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

The bridge is expected to be closed until October of 2015. 

Maplewood Avenue will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic between Cutts Street and the northbound Route 1 bypass ramps. Cutts Street and the northbound ramps will remain open to traffic during construction, according to DOT.

Detour information, via DOT:

• Motorists on Maplewood Avenue approaching the bridge from the west (Woodbury Avenue area) will be detoured onto Route 1 Bypass South, directed to reverse direction at the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, and will be able to access downtown Portsmouth via the Maplewood Avenue northbound off-ramp.

• Motorists on Maplewood Avenue approaching the bridge from the east (downtown side) will be directed onto Route 1 Bypass northbound and will be directed onto Market Street to Woodbury Avenue, and back onto Maplewood Avenue, to reach the western side of the bridge.

The demolition of the existing structure will include night operations beginning July 14, which will last about a week and a half. 

 E.D. Swett Inc., of Concord, is the prime contractor for the $3.9 million project.