The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge is open for good after a final round of construction.
The lift-span bridge that carries Route 1 over the Piscataqua River between Kittery and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, opened to traffic Friday evening, two days ahead of schedule, Maine Department of Transportation said in a news release.
There are no further plans for full daytime closures, the department said.
The bridge opened to traffic in the end of March, but closed April 30 so crews could finish construction that was deferred over the winter, including patching work on the four towers that raise and lower the middle span.
The $165 million dollar bridge is the most expensive in state history and has been a source of tension between Maine DOT and Cianbro, the construction company hired to build it. The parties blame one another for seven months of delays attributed to staff turnover, design problems and cost overruns.
The entire project is expected to be complete by June 1.
Peter McGuire can be reached at 791-6325 or at:
pmcguire@pressherald.com
Twitter: @PeteL_McGuire
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