Sarah Mildred Long Bridge Project Planning to Get Underway

Editor's note: Welcome to "Across the River," which offers stories and news from Kittery, Maine. Each Thursday, Portsmouth Patch will present a story about this community along with a short list of upcoming events and happenings around town. All Portsmouth Patch stories about Kittery, Maine will also be posted in our new "Across the River" topic page that can be accessed by clicking on the News section of the tool bar any time.

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Maine Department of Transportation officials will host the first official community planning meeting for the $172 million Sarah Mildred Long Bridge project on Oct. 18.

According to Joyce Taylor, the Maine DOT's bureau director of projects in Augusta, Maine, representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the Memorial Bridge community group, the Portsmouth pilots, local business leaders and Kittery town officials will attend the 2:45 p.m. meeting in the lower meeting room at the Kittery Trading Post.

Taylor said members of the public area also welcome to come and learn about the project, which state planners hope will begin in 2014 and be completed by 2017. "We literally right now do not have any design on paper, but we hope to get as many stakeholders involved in the planning process," she said.

Taylor said the Oct. 18 meeting is the first in a series of community planning sessions where the public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the project and offer their input.

Currently, the state agency has selected the design firm Figg Engineering of Harrisburg, Pa., for the project, but Taylor said the contract has not been awarded to the firm yet.

The project to replace the current 72-year-old bridge that carries traffic over the Piscataqua on the Route One Bypass is a joint effort between the Maine and New Hampshire departments of transportation. New Hampshire DOT officials were able to reach an agreement with Maine DOT officials in May to go with a design that calls for a wider span so larger ships can navigate it. The new bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

This year alone the bridge has been forced to shut down a few times because of mechanical issues with the lift span. New guard rails were also installed because of safety concerns.

Meetings:

Kittery Parks Commission, Thursday, Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall.

Kittery Planning Board, Thursday, Oct. 11, 6 p.m., Town Hall

Kittery Town Hall closed, Friday, Oct 12.

Kittery School Committee,  Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall

Kittery Growth Management Committee, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., Town Hall

Kittery Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., Town Hall

Events:

Flu clinic: For staff and students at Traip Academy Library, Friday, Oct. 12, 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Kittery Premium Outlets Pink Event: During the month of October, shoppers can visit the on-site Information Center at Kittery Premium Outlets to donate $10 to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and then enjoy a rewarding day of shopping at the Premium Outlets® Pink Event.

KTP bicycle rides: Every Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m., Kittery Trading Post guides will lead bicyclists on a coastal ride in town and newcomers are welcome.

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