Sewalls Falls Bridge

The Sewalls Falls Bridge, a 660-foot single lane steel truss bridge over the Merrimack River in Concord, NH that was built in the summer of 1915, was deemed structurally deficient and substandard and saw its last commuter Nov. 31, 2014.

A replacement project was originally conceived in 1990. However, the citizens of Concord felt a strong attachment to the historic structure and a movement to save the bridge culminated in a mandated structural evaluation in 2010. The result of the evaluation showed that approximately 80% of the steel on the existing bridge would need to be replaced.

In the end, because of the condition of the steel truss bridge that was in really poor condition, it didnt make sense to try to rehabilitate it. The City was faced with a $15 million estimate and would have wound up with two one-way bridges as the final project. The City Council voted and they opted to return to the replacement project.

In its place stands a new bridge which features three spans sitting on two piers, an upgrade from the previous two spans over one pier. The bridge will also look quite different. Most notably, there will be nothing overhead as cars drive across. Further, there are sidewalks where pedestrians can safely walk and enjoy the view. Having spent a considerable amount for the new bridge, the City wanted to take all precautions to minimize corrosion and create an aesthetic that would only require a minimum amount of maintenance. The specification for the railings and other elements of the bridge was the same duplex coating system of galvanizing and powder coating that the New Hampshire Department of Transportation selected for their signature project in Franconia Notch.