Memorial Bridge Center Span to be Floated in Next Month

In less than one month, the Memorial Bridge middle lift span will be floated in and attached bringing the $81.4 million project one step closer to completion in July.

Carol Morris, a spokesperson for Archer Western Contractors, outlined the process that will be used to successfully float in and test the center span in an e-mail on Wednesday.

Morris wrote in her e-mail the float in will take place on June 10 and then the lift span will be tested over a five day period between June 10 and June 15 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. She noted the U.S. Coast Guard has issued a river closure order for that time period.

“The Coast Guard will enforce a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) that encompasses all navigable waters on the Piscatqua River, surface to bottom, in the vicinity of the Memorial Bride construction zone. The RNA is effective within a 300-yard radius of position 43 degrees 04’ 46” N, 70 degrees 45’ 10” W, in between Portsmouth, NH and Badgers Island in Kittery, Maine.” It goes on to explain that, “Heavy lift operations are sensitive to water movement, and wake from passing vessels could pose significant risk of injury or death to construction workers,” reads a statement from the Coast Guard.

Steve DelGrosso, Archer Western Contractors project manager, said setting the center span in place is a much longer process that setting the north and south spans in place.

“This is a much more complex process,” he said in a prepared statement, listing just some of the tasks that need to be completed. “We will be working 24 hours a day for the duration of the 5-day channel closure. The temporary jacking towers on the barge Cape Cod need to be dismantled so that the barge can be removed from the channel."

Delgrosso noted in his statement that 64 counterweight wire rope connections will be set in a tight configuration to make up and adjust. He said the operating wire ropes will be connected and adjusted.

"The machine rooms under the ends of the center span are complex, and completing the electrical connections to the towers will be time consuming. Once all connections are made, final adjustments need to be completed to more closely balance the counterweights with the span.”

Delgrosso also said that Archer Western Contractors will be making every effort to complete the installation and lifting of the center span in as little time as possible, but he anticipates needing the full five days.