KITTERY — The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing an inspection of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge from April 24 to April 28. This lift bridge carries the Route 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River between Kittery and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Federal Highway Administration requires this inspection be completed at least every two years. This is a scheduled inspection to meet that requirement. This inspection work will impact traffic, according to MDOT, in a news release.

There will be a lane shift in place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for the duration of the inspection. In addition, there will be periodic full closures of the bridge between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 25.

“During these two days, we expect at least four full closures,” said MDOT. “Each closure will be limited to no longer than 90 minutes.”

Traffic will be detoured to the Memorial Bridge or the Piscataqua River (I-95) Bridge during bridge closures.

The lift span will be operated over the course of the week at non-peak travel times for the purpose of inspection of the mechanical and electrical components. These operations will not detour traffic and will be similar to a bridge lift for ship passage.

Hardesty and Hanover of Yarmouth will be conducting this inspection. The cost of the work is $138,949.

This schedule may change due to weather conditions.