Memorial Bridge Grand Opening Thursday

The Memorial Bridge will open to traffic sometime on Thursday after a ribbon cutting ceremony is held in the morning, New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials announced.

Bill Boynton, the state agency's public information officer, wrote in an e-mail the "Memorial Bridge will be opened initially for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, followed by the opening to vehicular traffic to be determined for a time later in the day."

He also added the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on the Scott Avenue approach to the bridge in Portsmouth.

"That will be followed by an extended period when pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to tour and walk across the bridge. The safe opening of the bridge to vehicle traffic will be determined in consultation with the contractor and the Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME police departments," he wrote.

Ninety-five year old Eileen Foley will cut the ribbon on the new bridge during the ceremony. Foley cut the ribbon on the original bridge in 1923 when she was 5 years old.

Boynton added that while the bridge is expected to be open to traffic, there remains construction work to be completed on the $81.4 million project. 

Boynton said the actual cost of the project was closer to $90 million.

He noted the ongoing work will result in occasional traffic delays and short term bridge access limitations for pedestrians and bicyclist until full project completion in November. 

• Installation of Memorial Plaques
• System Operation adjustments
• Installation of Community Sponsored Bridge Illumination (Aesthetic Lights)
• Counterweight chain adjustments
• Installation of a Pier Protection Fender System
• Completion of Memorial Park