Sarah Long Bridge to be Closed 2 to 4 Weeks

New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials say the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic for the next two to four weeks until repairs can be made.

William Boynton, the state agency's public information officer, wrote in an e-mail on Tuesday afternoon, "We are in the process of securing a private contractor to do the repairs. No cost estimate yet."

Boynton also wrote that while traffic could be more congested on Interstate 95 and other state roads such as the Spaulding Turnpike while the bridge is being repaired, DOT officials are not anticipating any real problems.

"It will be an inconvenience and will no doubt affect local traffic patterns," Boynton wrote.

Gov. Maggie Hassan toured the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge damage with New Hampshire Department of Transportation Commissioner Chris Clement on Tuesday morning.

Clement said on Tuesday morning the damage caused by the Harbour Feature tanker from Madeira, Portugal when it slammed into the bridge after a mooring line snapped at the New Hampshire State Pier on Monday afternoon could end up causing more than $1 million worth of damage. Clement said some trusses need to be repaired.