Sarah Long Bridge Structural Repairs to Get Underway

Structural repair work on the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge which has been closed for more than two weeks after it was struck by a tanker will begin this Sunday, according to New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials.

Bill Boynton, the state agency's public information officer, e-mailed a schedule of when the $2.5 million of structural repair work will take place.

According to Boynton, Cianbro continues to do steel fabrication and engineering design work. Boynton also said a barge, crane and materials will be floated up the Piscataqua River to the bridge on Thursday.

He also wrote in his e-mail that in water work will begin soon to build temporary support for the repair work.

"In addition to damaged steel replacement, work will involve “heat straightening” of lower chord on the bridge," Boynton wrote. He added that lead paint removal continues at affected locations that need to be repaired and that New Hampshire DOT crews continue to do bridge deck repair work.

The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge was closed to all motor vehicle traffic on Monday, April 1 after the Harbour Feature tanker, which was carrying a cargo of tallow oil, broke free from its moorings at the New Hampshire State Pier slammed into the bridge.

New Hampshire DOT officials announced later in the week the tanker caused $2.5 million of damage to four steel bridge members on the Portsmouth side of the span.