What a shame it would be lose our Memorial Bridge. Not only is it a war memorial and a downtown link to Maine, but it is an architectural and engineering masterpiece, a rare and historic lift-bridge. (Continued below)

Link a Giant Erector Set on the Piscataqua 1923 

Like the restored North Church steeple, it has become an iconic image of scenic Portsmouth. It was a modern marvel when dedicated in 1923. The footings are sunk as deep as 82 feet into bedrock below the river. Six thousand tons of sand and 14,000 barrels of cement were used to pin the steel footings in place. The three spans are 300 feet each. In the original bridge, two concrete counter weights balanced a million pounds of road , pulled up and down by 64 cables in just a couple of minutes as many as 20 times a day. Here the middle section spanning the Piscataqua is being floated into place by tugs.

BONUS PHOTOS

 This image from the book STRAWBERY BANKE:
A Seaport Museum 400 Years in the Making
by J. Dennis Robinson
(c) Strawbery Banke Museum Collection