Maplewood Avenue Bridge Closes July 14

The Maplewood Avenue Bridge over the Route 1 bypass in Portsmouth is closed for full bridge replacement and it is expected to be closed until the fall of 2015, according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

The closure extends between Cutts Street and the northbound Route 1 Bypass ramps, and Cutts Street and the northbound ramps will remain open to traffic during the construction.

Detour information, via DOT:

• Motorists on Maplewood Avenue approaching the bridge from the west (Woodbury Ave.) will be detoured onto the Route 1 Bypass southbound, directed to reverse direction at the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, and will be able to access downtown Portsmouth via the existing Maplewood Avenue northbound off-ramp. 
• Motorists on Maplewood Avenue approaching the bridge from the east (Downtown) will be detoured onto the Route 1 Bypass northbound and will be directed onto Market Street to Woodbury Avenue and back onto Maplewood Avenue to reach the west side of the bridge.

The first phase of the project involves the demolition of the existing bridge, 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.