The busy Queen City Bridge in Manchester, NH recently reopened after a nearly four-day closure that allowed for a thorough structural inspection.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation ordered the bridge closed Sept. 21 after a routine inspection of the bridge revealed concerns about possible “structural deficiencies,” according to the city’s Department of Public Works.
Tim Clougherty, director of Manchester DPW, said in a statement: “Further inspection and testing was carried out to ensure the condition of the bridge was fully understood before it was returned to service.
The more than century-old bridge, a 1,175-foot-long, 14-span structure, carries nearly 30,000 vehicles on Route 3 over the Merrimack River and a CSX rail corridor. The bridge linking the east and west sides of Manchester was rebuilt in 1992.
Meanwhile, 22 miles south of Manchester, one westbound lane on the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Hudson remains closed following a routine NHDOT inspection. The Veterans Bridge carries about 37,000 vehicles a day from the Hudson to Nashua, across the Merrimack River.
The Veterans Bridge inspection a day after the Manchester Bridge inspection found a cracked beam, the Nashua Independent reports on the city’s Facebook page.
Hudson City officials say they expect the bridge to be fully operational in four to six weeks.
For the Veterans Bridge, Hudson City Engineer Elvis Dhima told the New Hampshire Union Leader that he contacted the Hudson Board of Selectmen, who called a special meeting to authorize emergency funds of about $100.00 for structural repairs to the bridge.
Manchester DPW officials reported signs of rust buildup and a “potential crack” in armor, WMUR reports. The department added that the problems did not appear to be related to the nearby $360 million cemetery drainage tunnel project or any recent bridge repairs.
The stormwater tunnel project launched a 281-ton TBM on Aug. 31 as scheduled, Parsons resident engineer Ed Pietrasz tells ENR. The project has not been “impacted” by the ongoing inspections of the Queen City Bridge, he adds.
The two bridge closures come as the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, expires on September 30. Over the life of the IIJA from fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2026, New Hampshire will receive a total of $225 million for necessary repairs to the Formula program. The program allows states to set aside 15 percent of each state’s allocation to set aside “out-of-system bridges” on public highways, the FHWA says. Federal share for bridges owned by a city, township, village or other local agency, the federal share can be 100%
For the two city-owned bridges, “NHDOT works closely with the communities to provide expertise and guidance” for bridge repair, says Jennifer Lane, NHDOT spokeswoman. “We are working with Governor Kelly Ayotte’s office to consider any requests for financial assistance.”
Of New Hampshire’s 2,549 bridges, the state has rated 192 bridges, or 8 percent, as structurally deficient, down from 194 in 2021, according to the American Highway and Transportation Builders Association. The state ranked 15th in the nation for the percentage of structurally deficient bridges, down from 18th in 2024.
However, the association has identified 2,498 bridges in need of repair, compared to 2,473 in 2021.
The recent inspection of the Queen City Bridge follows a 2024 inspection, which reported multiple areas of corrosion and pitting, but no cracking of the steel truss.
Manchester Bridge inspections are carried out every two years.
