Submitted by Port City Coin at: January 14, 2011
Who cares what it looks like just fix it

Submitted by TaxiManSteve at: January 6, 2011
Update: bridge to be replaced with replica, allowing larger roadway but will preserve the appearance of the 1923 span. Original bridge piers to be reused.

Submitted by TaxiManSteve at: December 11, 2010
Recent public meetings have brought a preference for a more modern span, according to news reports. The two states had proposed a near replica to replace this bridge.

Submitted by Jibster at: December 11, 2010
SO SAD! (cries) I'm actually not kidding LOL.

Submitted by Chad at: December 9, 2010
As of Noon TODAY the bridge is officially closed until the new one can be built.

Submitted by Jess at: December 8, 2010
Well... I go to Maine every year and I'm very young so when my dad is driving the car he wakes me up just to see the bridge!!! I love the bridge..... WHO DOESN'T?????

Submitted by jim at: October 5, 2010
Times change with todays economy the way it is we do not need the bridge, build a new water front at 1/3 the cost

Submitted by Eminem at: August 29, 2010
I was born in NH and every summer I go up there to visit. The Memorial Bridge always fascinates me and I would hate to see it go. I can't believe that they would have the nerve to destroy that bridge.

Submitted by james at: July 11, 2010
We live in Kittery and use the Route 1 bridge regularly to go to Portsmouth, walking as well as driving. Destroying the bridge would eliminate the only viable way of walking from one town to another and would result in more car traffic, and therefore more exhaust and increased parking problems.

Submitted by claire at: May 17, 2010
This bridge is beautiful! Way to beautiful to be demolished!!!!! I think they should just rehabilitate it already. I love Maine and I hope this monument is saved.

Submitted by nate at: May 3, 2010
i love this bridge and i hope it is saved and recognized for what it is - a crucial part of the community that should not be abandoned after it has already been neglected. in this economy, we should be able to find hard workers who take pride in their work who could fix it up for a reasonable price. ripping it out and replacing it with some modern marvel will destroy a part of the small town charm that ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO THE AREA. With both ends connected to neighborhoods with small streets, it makes no sense to tear out those neighborhoods to create a bigger more expensive bridge that encourages more traffic in an area that should celebrate walking and biking and light traffic. PLEASE ORGANIZE AND SAVE THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE!

Submitted by big d at: February 22, 2010
i proposed to my wife on the bridge

Submitted by Daniel Street at: February 18, 2010
My grandfather was one of the first people to drive across the Memorial Bridge when it opened, but that is hardly reason to sink money into the rusting relic. Built in the early 20th-century, the Memorial Bridge is now as obsolete as the vehicles it was designed to carry, and nostalgia isn't going to alter the fact. Fine, many people are used to it, and change can be painful. But the bridge was built for a utilitarian purpose which today it just barely fulfills. The steel is deteriorated, and the grate floor is downright dangerous for motorcycles. What is so bad about replacing it with an efficient contemporary design, while retaining the familiar name? And if the money isn't there to erect a new Memorial Bridge, get rid of it altogether and restore the old waterfront. Fine architecture should be preserved, but not infrastructure that has outlived its usefulness.

Submitted by polarityphoto.com at: December 31, 2009
Having grown up in NH and spent a good portion of my life on the seacoast I can say that from a local perspective it would be an absolute tragedy to lose the Memorial Bridge. Speaking from the perspective of someone who photographs historic architecture and engineering it would be a complete shame and an utter disgrace to not stand up for the preservation of Memorial Bridge; not to mention the symbolic blow to veterans that demolishing this bridge would deliver. Speak up folks! Don't let Memorial Bridge become General Sullivan Bridge 2.0!

Submitted by Pontist at: September 10, 2009
Though the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) was responsible for helping create (HAER) in the late-1960s, few engineers or highway departments, at the time, practiced or embraced the preservation of their own heritage. Engineering heritage was a new concept, with only a few having any clue of its meaning – much less ramifications for the future. Over the past 40 years, the movement has spread. Today, it is recognized that aspects of our cultural heritage are worth preserving, including bridges like Memorial. ME and NH are two of the most sophisticated states regarding heritage. It would be shameful if Memorial Bridge was replaced. HAER is a federal program established in1969, to create a national archive of America's engineering, industrial and technological heritage.

Submitted by Jared at: August 24, 2009
As a resident of Maine all my life, this bridge has special meaning to me. This is the bridge where me and my dad would drive over to board our boat on the NH side and spend almost every weekend fishing and boating. When we would dock the boat we would go across the bridge to Badger's Island in ME and stop in the local fish shop to grab more bait before heading along the back roads for home. Along the way I would look around and marval at the scenes of Kittery, Eliot and South Berwick. Without this bridge, many people wil not have the opportunity to visit the historic towns of Portsmouth and Kittery. If this bridge is destroyed, it will bring down countless memories that good people have along with a memorial to all the men who gave their lives in the "War To End All Wars."

Submitted by Gothamgirl at: August 18, 2009
Born on the Shipyard, traveled the bridge often throughout childhood -- my sister called it "the Singing Bridge" for the sound the car tires made traveling over the metal grate surface (now paved). Have the governors or DOT departments posted the reports showing analysis of how demolishing this bridge and building new is more cost effective than simply caring for the existing bridge?

Submitted by Lizzie at: July 9, 2009
Having grown up in this area, the Memorial Bridget is a local landmark in New England and is one of the features of Portsmouth that makes it a remarkable seaside town. It would be an absolute crime to replace it with something more modern. In a recent trip back to Portsmouth I could not believe the number of new building projects that are taking place with no regard to the historic fabric of this area. It doesn't seem logical that restoring this bridge would be far more expensive than demolishing it and building again. There must be a solution that means the bridge will be preserved and both the Maine and NH budgets will not drained.

Submitted by cheesey at: June 18, 2009
memorial Bridge rocks

Submitted by cheesey at: June 12, 2009
The Memorial Bridge is considered to be very important to a very large amount of people. This is because it is a very important memorial for people who have lost relatives or friends to World War 1. This was constructed between 1920and 1923 during World War 1 to honour the memory of those who gave there lives for their country. Another reason why it is important is because it is still used as a fully functional bridge that transports lots of people from place to place. But due to its condition it can’t support a vehicle that weighs over 20 tons but thanks to the U.S. Government they have launched a program to repair it where it needs to be repaired to make it be able hold more weight. But it will cost a lot more to demolish The Memorial Bridge that to Repair it.

Submitted by Cheesey at: June 12, 2009
You can't demolish Memorial Bridge as it represents all of the brave soldiers that gave their lives for their country in Worls War 1.If you do you will be upsetting many Americans.

Submitted by L. Strauss at: May 23, 2009
As a child every summer I went to New Hampshire, and we always took the Memorial Bridge. Later in 1965 I was married in Portsmouth and during the summer of 1981 I spent two months working in Portsmouth and Kittery using the bridge almost daily. I never stopped being fascinated by it, as a child or adult. I used to hope that it was going to be in motion every time I went over it, even if it meant that I would have to wait.

Submitted by J R Smith at: May 12, 2009
This bridge is the life line to this historic area of Portsmouth and a life line to the people who live in the south end of Kittery and Kittery Point. I am a third generation Kittery Point resident and could not imagine life without this bridge. This entire area of Portsmouth would be very much put out of good use as it is kind of a pininsula without many other routes to get there. My Grandfather told stories of standing on this bridge watching a submarine (of sorts) travel up the river toward Great Bay during WWII. The residents of Kittery and Kittery point use this bridge to veiw the fourth of July fireworks every year. Locals fish on off the train tracks, and everyone knows the sound of that whistle blowing. In the summer it it tradition that when your are stopped waiting at the bridge to get out and watch the boats passing underneith, and talking with the others "stuck in bridge traffic". I never take the Route 1 (Sarah Long) Bridge, I always use this one. It is a spot to observe the working waterfront of both NH and ME at once. You can veiw lobster boats, the barges at the salt pier, the submarines at the Navy Base, the restaurants, the historic Prescott Park, and the guided tour boats that head out to the Isles of Shoals. Between this and the possibility of Frisee's General Store closing I am fearing the worst for this area losing all of its very long history. Many of the old families in the area are no longer there to tell the stories of the importance of these places, and we rely on these places speaking for themselves to new generations of residents; to increase their pride in where they are from. If we lose our history here in New England, the rest of the country is bound to be next.

Submitted by The Ohioans at: May 8, 2009
My husband and I come out east every year and have enjoyed the Strawbery Banke/Portsmouth Area. We stop and eat along the bay and enjoy the Memorial Bridge and cross it into Kittery. We're from the Midwest and many of the old landmarks here have been torn down, all that is left are corn/soy bean fields. We love to come out and drive through New England and enjoy all the different bridges,lighthouses, white steepled churches, historic landmarks and scenery. We have to get our fix every fall and come out to enjoy the character of the New England area. Too much has been lost. Its important to keep your coastal character .

Submitted by Troy at: May 3, 2009
I first visited Portsmouth and Kittery in 1993. The Memorial bridge is a the center of my memories and I look forward to seeing and crossing it every time we go back. The landmark helps me navigate around the area and it is absolutely one of the defining elements of these communities. As we tour the New England area, many of the coastal towns are very similar in character yet, like Kittery/Portsmouth, each town has a defining element, not unlike the Memorial Bridge. It is important to these communities and the community is obviously proud of keeping it.

Submitted by ryan at: May 1, 2009
I walk across this bridge daily, often multiple times. It is one of my favorite advantages to living in kittery. Visiting friends are awed when we see ships sail by so closely. My dogs love walking across, stopping to look down at the water, and getting dog treats from the bridge operators. It really is a "green" structure, I rarely ever drive and this bridge makes that possible. This bridge makes me feel very connected to two special communities.

Submitted by kate at: April 30, 2009
I spent years waiting tables at the now demolished Pier II. Hearing the siren I would...carrying a full tray of food attempt to dodge the tourists from all over the country who would flock to the rails of the deck to photograph the bridge being raised. Later in my life with screaming babies in my car I would be trying to head home to Kittery only to find the bridge to be up...And no matter how much of a pain in the butt living near the bridge can be no matter how many times I cross over, or see her from a distance I am always awed at the beauty of the Memorial Bridge. It makes every day more scenic.

Submitted by Christine at: April 29, 2009
I grew up and live in Mass. Every summer since I was born, we've traveled up to Ogunquit. And everytime, my nana would ask my sister and I which bridge to take into Maine, and I always answered "the little bridge," even if it meant waiting half an hour for the ships to pass through. It's a beautiful bridge and it would be a shame to lose it. I hope NH and ME come to an agreement on how to save it.

Submitted by Maria at: April 28, 2009
I grew up in Mass and have lived in Illinois for 30 years. My husband and I take a coastal drive each time we visit "Back East" and always end up at the bridge. We stop for a few minutes at the park, watch the boats, look for subs at the shipyard and talk about the history of the area. It's a shame two states can't work out a solution to save this grand old structure. Replacing the bridge will diminish the character of the two communities.

Submitted by blakesterw at: April 28, 2009
Last summer, our family vacation took us to Portsmouth, and my kids thought it was pretty cool to be able to walk across this bridge and end up in Maine to have lunch. It was a nice walk and view, and it would be shame to loose such a bridge. You just can't do that as you zoom by on the near-by I-95 bridge.

Submitted by CK at: April 28, 2009
It is sad that officials always get into the act. I think they have forgotten how beautiful these two connected places are and that they bring together many people from all walks of life. The bridge itself is a wonder of metal art and beauty in use.

Submitted by Sarah at: April 28, 2009
When boats go under the bridge, a line of cars develops on either side. In most weather, people of all ages get out of the cars, enjoy Portsmouth's working waterfront, and talk together. It's an unhurried moment that defines the pace of life in Portsmouth.

Submitted by weisenheimer at: April 28, 2009
Also of importance is the fact that this bridge is the pedestrian and bicycle connection between the historic communities of Portsmouth and Kittery. Memorial Bridge also connects the NH Seacoast Greenway with Maine's Eastern Trail, which leads all the way to Portland. Both are sections of the East Coast Greenway, connecting cities from Maine to Florida.

Submitted by J in NH at: April 28, 2009
Maine needs to stop dragging their feet and come to some sort of agreement with NH to rehab this bridge. Everyone understands the importance of this bridge except for those sitting on their backsides in Augusta.