Portsmouth's 'Singing Bridge' to Be Torn Down

The 72-year-old Sagamore Bridge, commonly referred to as Portsmouth's "singing bridge," is set to close Oct. 15 for replacement.

"The steel is deteriorating," Public Works Director Peter Rice recently told the City Council. "It's beyond its life."

The bridge is part of Route 1A. The Golden Egg breakfast place is located on the southern side.

It's called the "singing bridge" because of the hum vehicles generate as tires roll over the grated surface. Rice said the new, $8 million bridge won't sing like the current one.

The new bridge is set to be completed sometime in the spring of 2015. Boat traffic will still be allowed during construction, Rice said.

He said in the next five years, Portsmouth will have replaced nine bridges.

Last week, the new Memorial Bridge opened to traffic. Next year, the Sarah Long Bridge is set to be replaced.