Once every decade or so there is a major transportation improvement project that serves to define a community or a region.

For bicyclists on the Seacoast, the last major infrastructure project was the 1999 construction of the Rockingham Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge that connected Portsmouth with Pease International Tradeport and finally provided a safe crossing of the Spaulding Turnpike for walkers and cyclists alike.

The most important upcoming project for the regional bicycle transportation network is the rehabilitation of Memorial Bridge on Route 1, connecting Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine. Construction is currently slated for 2010-2011 at an estimated cost of more than $30 million. Memorial Bridge is the only legal crossing of the Piscataqua River for cyclists and pedestrians in coastal New Hampshire and Maine. The bridge is also a key link for the East Coast Greenway, an urban Appalachian Trail for cyclists and pedestrians that aims to connect all the major cities of the East Coast.

This project is far too important for our community to leave key decisions up to New Hampshire Department of Transportation staff. The best way to ensure this project get done right is for the public (that’s you and me) to get involved by providing input early and by providing input often.

To NHDOT’s credit, they have held a public hearing recently and have surveyed cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists regarding their use of the bridge. Also, their current design for the rehabilitated bridge calls for the roadway to be filled in with lightweight concrete. Not only does this provide for a much safer surface to ride on (the current open metal grate is very dangerous for cyclists and has resulted in several gruesome injuries), but also keeps rainwater off of the underlying structure, preventing rusting and prolonging the life of the bridge.

But here’s the rub. There is no guarantee that NHDOT will rehabilitate the bridge so it is safer for cyclists. There are three key issues that NHDOT needs to be pressed on. First, and most importantly, when the bridge is fixed, it must have a safe and effective facility for bicyclists and pedestrians. This is not negotiable. Second, the state must accommodate the pedestrians and cyclists while the bridge is completely closed for two months during the initial phases of construction. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring back a historical ferry service—like the one that used to transport workers from Portsmouth across the river to work at the Naval shipyard—or to improve our local COAST trolley service to include Kittery.

Finally, what happens between now and when the project is slated to begin? The current situation does not accommodate cyclists, who must either get off their bicycles and walk across the bridge (not very safe for any cyclist that wears clip-in shoes with metal cleats and certainly not convenient), or ride across the dangerous steel grating. NHDOT has investigated interim solutions, but have concluded that making the bridge safer for cyclists right now will add too much weight to the lift span mechanism, which has already outlived its design lifetime. This is a very real concern. In fact, NHDOT has limited the weight of vehicles crossing the bridge to less than 30 tons, and currently performs a detailed inspection of the bridge every six months just to make sure it’s still safe. This weight limitation is also a problem for local fire trucks that may not be able to respond quickly to a call from another town (some of the fire trucks in the Seacoast exceed the 30-ton limit when fully loaded).

There is one simple solution to this entire issue that will satisfy cyclists, pedestrians, fire trucks and commuters: move the start of construction phase of the project up to 2008 from the currently scheduled 2010. That’s right. Move up the project date by two years so the currently rusting Memorial Bridge becomes safer sooner.

This will actually serve an additional purpose. When the Memorial bridge becomes safe and user-friendly for cyclists, more people will be riding their bicycles. NHDOT does not carry statistics on bicyclist or pedestrian bridge traffic, but a non-scientific survey conducted by Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes in September 2004 suggests that perhaps an average of 15-20 cyclists and 15-20 pedestrians cross the bridge every hour during the day. As soon as the bridge is updated, better bicycle and pedestrian access will offer a healthier lifestyle for Seacoast residents, less congestion on the narrow streets of Portsmouth (especially in summer when downtown Portsmouth traffic often grinds to a standstill), and cleaner air. It will even open up a few precious parking spots.

If you care about your community and safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians, for you, your children and your grandchildren, it’s time to get involved in this project. Write a letter to your town and your state transportation planner, phone your local state representative and ask them to encourage NHDOT to fix the bridge sooner rather than later. E-mail the mayor, support your own local bicycle advocacy group (Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes), join the East Coast Greenway Alliance, participate in a Critical Mass Ride, and go for a bicycle ride with your children. Just get involved and stay involved. The entire region will be a better place to live as a result.

Cameron Wake lives in Kittery, Maine, and serves on the Board of Directors of Seacoast Area Bicycle Routes (www.SeacoastBikes.org).