Police Reopen I-95 Bridge Between Maine and New Hampshire
The bridge carrying Interstate 95 between Maine and New Hampshire has been reopened to traffic after being shut down by police for more than an hour on Tuesday afternoon. The Maine State Police said in an alert just before 2 p.m. that the agency, along with the New Hampshire State Police, was responding to an “incident” on the Piscataqua River Bridge. Soon after, they closed lanes in both directions. At 3:18 p.m., state police announced that both lanes had been reopened to traffic.
Connecting Communities
The Piscataqua River Bridge connects Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Kittery, Maine, serving as a vital link between the two states. According to Paul Merrill, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Transportation, between 70,000 and 80,000 vehicles use the bridge daily, with higher traffic volumes during peak periods. The reopening of the bridge brings relief to commuters and businesses that rely on this crucial transportation artery.
A Tragic Past
Both north- and southbound traffic was blocked on the bridge in late August after police killed a New Hampshire man during a confrontation there. The man, Trent Weston, allegedly killed his 37-year-old wife, Brittany, in Troy, New Hampshire, overnight before driving to the Piscataqua River Bridge. Shockingly, an 8-year-old child was found dead in his vehicle, although police clarified that the child didn’t die during the confrontation with officers. This tragic incident underscores the importance of swift and effective responses by law enforcement to prevent further harm.
Seeking Answers
As the bridge reopens and traffic resumes its flow, questions linger about the nature of the “incident” that led to its closure on Tuesday. Authorities have not provided additional information at this time, leaving the community and the public eager for more details. Stay tuned as the investigation unfolds, shedding light on the events that transpired on the Piscataqua River Bridge and the actions taken by law enforcement to ensure public safety.
