New Hampshire’s congressional delegation is calling on federal officials to swiftly assess the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth for potential collapse risks.
The request follows a March report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that identified 68 U.S. bridges, including Memorial Bridge, as potentially vulnerable to vessel collisions. The recommendation stems from the ongoing investigation into the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was struck by a cargo ship.
According to the NTSB, the Key Bridge exceeded acceptable risk thresholds by nearly 30 times. While the Memorial Bridge, a vertical-lift span built in 2013, was not labeled “critical,” it was listed as of “typical” concern.
The 1,200-foot-long bridge carries U.S. State Route 1 over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine. Last June, it was struck by a sailboat after the vessel’s rudder cables failed.
In a letter Monday to the Federal Highway Administration, the delegation asked how the agency would support the New Hampshire Department of Transportation should the bridge be found above the risk threshold.
“We remain deeply invested in the safety of our district’s bridges and roadways,” the letter said.
Source: Unionleader.com, WMUR.com
