NH DOT Announces "On Call" Openings for Piscataqua River Traffic

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - The New Hampshire Dept. of Transportation announced it will accommodate "on call" scheduled openings for river traffic this week.

In a release, NH DOT said daily scheduled openings for river traffic are beginning Tuesday, May 15 at the Memorial Bridge and the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine.

Upon request, the Memorial Bridge will open at 30-minute intervals on the hour and half-hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. When requested, the Long Bridge will open at 30-minute intervals (15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the hour), also from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
These scheduled openings will continue through Oct. 31. Both bridges will continue to open “on call” for commercial vessels in excess of 100 gross tons.

Ship owners are reminded of the following U.S. Coast Guard regulation, Section 117:11 (33 CFR Chapter 1), which is intended to eliminate unnecessary bridge openings: “No vessel owner or operator shall signal a drawbridge to open for any non-structural vessel appurtenance which is not essential to navigation or which is easily lowered.”

Courtesy Photo / NH DOT