Sarah Long Bridge Permanently Closed to Motor Vehicle Traffic

New Hampshire and Maine's transportation departments have decided to permanently close the Sarah Long Bridge to vehicle traffic after a mechanical failure last weekend.

The bridge, which connects Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Kittery, Maine, wasn't able to lift to the "up" position on Sunday to allow marine traffic access to the Piscataqua River.

Engineers from both NHDOT and MaineDOT say the bridge isn't safe for routine operation without complicated repairs that could cost more than $1 million to complete.

The bridge was already scheduled to permanently close Nov. 1 to allow for construction on the new Sarah Long Bridge to be completed by Sept. 2017.

Detours are in place for drivers to use the I-94 "High Level" bridge and the Memorial Bridge on Route 1.

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