BREAKING NEWS: Sarah Long Bridge CLOSED

Kittery, Maine - According to the Maine Department of Transportation, the US 1 Kittery Sarah Long Bridge is closed due to a barge hit going under bridge. The Piscataqua River I-95 Bridge is a recommended alternate route in and out of Maine.


The Maine DOT says it was a barge that broke away from sort of mooring and collided with the bridge. The Sarah Long Bridge is now closed.

Maine DOT says the bridge must be inspected before traffic can be allowed back on. It is expected to be closed through the commute.

2:19pm UPDATE: Authorities say a large tanker has broken loose from a pier and has struck the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge in Portsmouth, N.H., damaging the New Hampshire-Maine bridge and closing it to traffic.

Bill Boynton of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation says the tanker is at least 800 feet long and is carrying fuel, although it's not immediately known what kind.

Boynton said the tide is coming in and is pushing the boat up against the bridge.
There's no word of any injuries.

The accident was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Monday. The Coast Guard and Portsmouth authorities are setting up a command post.

The bridge is one of three connecting Portsmouth to Kittery, Maine. Work being done on a new Memorial Bridge leaves just the Interstate 95 bridge open.

RCN America will update you when more information is available....