PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — New Hampshire transportation officials are about to start their final inspection of the new Memorial Bridge connecting the state with Maine.

A gate on the Kittery, Maine, side of the bridge malfunctioned last week, raising concerns about whether a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Aug. 8 would proceed as planned. The Portsmouth Herald reports that transportation officials decided Thursday to go ahead with the ceremony, which will highlight the historical link between Portsmouth and Kittery.

Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton says the final inspection process will begin Friday and will take about three days.

While the ceremony will mark the official re-opening of the bridge, it will be opened sometime before that without fanfare to avoid a rush of traffic.


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