Memorial Bridge Panel Hits $150K Mark

The Memorial Bridge Illumination Subcommittee announced this week they have raised $150,000 to illuminate every portion of the new bridge with LED lighting except for the center lift span.

According to Jon DiGesu, co-chairman of the panel, more than 95 individuals and 28 area businesses and organizations have pledged or donated $150,000 toward the $200,000 goal.

He said the $150,000 will be used to light up the Memorial Bridge plaque and light up the new bridge's pier footings and towers with white LED lighting and color changeable LED lights. DiGesu said the subcommittee needs to raise the remaining $50,000 to illuminate the center lift span.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for residents of the Seacoast to make a lasting investment in a legacy project similar to how Prescott Park happened.  To those who have already given, we express our sincere gratitude to make this community project possible,” said Peter Somssich, co-chair of the committee, in a prepared statement. 

Some of the largest donors for the bridge lighting project have included: Rockingham Electric ($10,000), Provident Bank ($5,000), Green Pages ($5,000) and Portsmouth Rotary ($2,500), and Public Service of New Hampshire ($40,000).

DiGesu said all donations will be recognized, however, if people have donated less than $1,000, but would like to be specially recognized with a plaque or a similar type of acknowledgement, please consider increasing your donation to that level. Community groups can also be recognized if they pool donations up to the $1,000 level, so your organization is on the plaque, as some groups have already done, he said.

The bridge panel will hold another public information presentation at the Portsmouth Public Library on Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m.

For information, please contact us or go to the www.PorstmouthBridges.com and www.memorialbridgeproject.com. Donation checks should be made out to "Portsmouth Historical Society” with Bridge Illumination written in the comment line, and sent to Rose Eppard, 129 Daniel St., Portsmouth, NH 03801.