Memorial Bridge Electrical Work to Take Center Stage

Archer Western Contractors officials are pleased with the progress they have made so far on the south span, north span and south span tower, but they say one of the most challenging things they need to do involves the electrical work.

Carol Morris, a spokeswoman for the contractor, said crews will soon install the roof, walls, and windows of the new bridge control house. She also said electrical work has started on the south span will continue up the south tower and in the control house. The south span was successfully floated in to the Portsmouth side of the Piscataqua River on Jan. 15 and the on March 14.

"As the steel structure moves towards completion, construction efforts will begin to focus on the electrical and mechanical aspects of the bridge. Erecting the steel structure is a challenging job; making sure the high-tech machinery that allows the center span to rise for water traffic and lower for land traffic works smoothly is just as critical," Morris wrote in an e-mail.

Morris also noted that after crews build the lift span at the New Hampshire Pier and it is floated in sometime in June, a great deal of effort will then be expended to make sure the middle lift span functions properly.

"The lift span will be seen moving up and down in the towers as electrical and mechanical testing takes place. Work will be ongoing on the electrical and mechanical components of the structure until the bridge is ready to be safely opened this summer," Morris wrote.

Archer Western Contractors have set a target completion date for the new Memorial Bridge of July 6. Morris noted in her e-mail that a great deal of work will need to be done after the new span opens to traffic.

"The final work, which includes completing approach work, the channel fender system, landscaping and cleanup, will take until the end of the year to complete, so some areas will remain out of bounds even after the bridge is open to traffic," Morris wrote.