The southeastern region of New Hampshire is one of the busiest in the state, due to its proximity to Massachusetts, as well as its status as a major corridor for vehicle traffic. Interstate 95 is the major artery through this part of the state, and one of its most prominent features is the Piscataqua River Bridge, which links New Hampshire to Maine. Come along as we show you why it is also one of the highest bridges in the U.S.

The Piscataqua River Bridge spans the Piscataqua River and connects Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Kittery, Maine.
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The state line is in the center of the river and bridge. Construction of the Piscataqua River Bridge began in 1968, and its formal opening was in 1972.
The bridge spans the river at a length of 4,503 feet and is 135 feet tall at its highest point. The bridge carries tens of thousands of vehicles each day between the two states along a six-lane section of Interstate 95.
Gregory Rosic/Google Maps
While located in both New Hampshire and Maine, the bridge is maintained by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.
Midway through the construction of the bridge in 1970, an accident claimed the lives of four workers who plunged to their deaths. Another seven were injured.
Doug Kerr/Flickr
On the Maine side of the river is a plaque under the bridge that memorializes the construction workers.

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The nearby Memorial Bridge and the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge also cross the river and were built to accomodate ship traffic.
Anita Gould/Flickr
The Piscataqua River Bridge was built with a high arch design to eliminate the need for raising and lowering. If you like iconic bridges, you'll definitely appreciate this one.
A total of four construction companies worked on designing, fabricating, and building the bridge:
Tony Webster/Wikimedia Commons
Bethlehem Steel Co. from Pennsylvania, Cianbro Corporation from Maine, Hardesty & Hanover from New York, and Cianchette Brothers, Inc. from Maine.
After its completion, the Piscataqua River Bridge won an "Award of Merit" from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
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It was also given the distinction of the most outstanding new bridge in the nation by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is a big point of pride with people from New Hampshire and people from Maine.

Were you aware of the Piscataqua River Bridge height? For fans of highways and roads, what other bridges in Portsmouth, NH are favorites? What other interesting bridges are there in New Hampshire? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

If you’re interested in making a weekend trip to Portsmouth, be sure to consider a stay at this tiny, historic doll house,

If you’re still in the mood for more New Hampshire adventures, take a look at this video:

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More to Explore

More To Love About New Hampshire

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | November 19, 2023

Where can we find botanical gardens in New Hampshire?

  • The Kirkwood Gardens in Holderness is part of the Squam Lake Natural Sciences Center.
  • The Saint-Gaudens National Historical Site in Cornish was once the home of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a famous sculptor.
  • The Fells in Newbury (also known as the Hays Estate) features an array of carefully curated flowers.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other stunning botanical gardens in New Hampshire.

Where can we find hidden gems in New Hampshire?

  • Distant Hill Gardens stretches across Walpole and Alstead, with half of its total 58 acres situated in each town.
  • The Andres Institute of Art in Brookline is a unique sculpture park spanning 140 acres and dotted with over 100 amazing sculptures.
  • The Madison Boulder in Madison is a natural phenomenon measuring 23 feet high, 37 feet from front to back, and 85 feet long.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other wonderful hidden gems in New Hampshire.

Where can we find small towns in New Hampshire?

  • Stark was the home of New Hampshire's only prisoner of war camp during WWII.
  • Dublin got its name from Governor John Wentworth in 1771 who called it such after his hometown in Ireland.
  • Tamworth is the home of Chocurua Lake, one of the most photographed sites in the state.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other charming small towns in New Hampshire.

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Piscataqua River Bridge, Kittery, ME 03904, USA