By Joseph Edgerton
Staff Writer

After 74 years of service to the two communities, a doubledecker traffic bridge connecting Pembroke and Allenstown will be sold for scrap.

The metal-truss two-level structure is the only bridge of its type in New Hampshire, providing access to to Routes 3 and 28. The state has no other double- decker bridges approved for motor vehicle transportation.

Because of its age, the bridge qualifies for a place in the National Register of Historic Places. According to Joyce McKay of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, structures 50 years or older can qualify.

The historical designation means that the Department of Transportation had to advertise the bridge as “for sale” before the agency could tear it down, and make an effort to see if a private purchaser was interested in preserving it.

Although the opening bid could be as low as $1, the purchaser would be responsible for disassembling the bridge, removing it, and reassembling it in a manner that would resemble and preserve its original use.

According to project manager Chris Waszczuk, this was most likely the reason that the historic bridge was not purchased by a private party in time for the Thursday, Oct. 20, deadline.

"The latest information I received was that there was no interest in the bridge," he said. "Before it could be sold as scrap, we needed to provide extensive documentation of its history, and advertise its sale."

Having fulfilled the obligation to represent the bridge as a historical landmark, it will be torn down and recycled.

"As I've said before, the bridge was extremely deteriorated, and really couldn't be rehabilitated," he said. "I don't think it would be feasible to remove and restore the structure."

A new bridge connecting Pembroke and Allenstown has been scheduled for construction, but the old bridge will remain until the new one is in place and operational, most likely in 18 months, said Waszczuk.

The new bridge is expected to cost $13.6 million - $12 million has been allocated for construction costs, and $1.6 million for engineering fees and designs.

McKay said the new bridge will resemble the old bridge at the request of citizens from both towns, but will be of a sturdier construction.

"It's called historic mitigation by removal," she said. "We see if there is a way that we can make up for removing the bridge."

State DOT Contract Administrator Tim Miller said the cost of removal would be substantial - $477,000, to be specific.

"The old bridge isn't going to be torn down until the new bridge is built," he said. "In addition to the double-decker structure over the river, there are two smaller approach bridges leading into the structure on either side."

Anyone purchasing the bridge would have to pay $330,000 to remove it, and an additional $147,000 to remove the smaller connectors.

Miller said the cash value of the materials used in the bridge's construction is difficult to determine.

"To buy the bridge and take it down would be a very tough thing for someone, because they would have to reassemble it somewhere else," he said. "It's an extremely expensive proposition to buy, disassemble, transport and rebuild a bridge."