Editor’s note: The story was updated to add why the bridge was closed.
Maine’s busiest bridge is closed in both directions Thursday due to police activity.
I-95 Northbound and Southbound at the Piscataqua River Bridge, or “High Rise Bridge,” was closed around 3 a.m. Thursday, New Hampshire State Police said. It remained closed as of 7 a.m.
Police did not originally specify why the bridge was closed but said that Troopers were on the scene and that “drivers should anticipate delays and avoid the area if possible.”
Officials later clarified they believe a man killed a woman in Troy, New Hampshire overnight and then drove to the Piscataqua River Bridge. Police “engaged” with the man on the bridge, which ended with the man being fatally shot, according to a statement by New Hamsphire Attorney General John M. Formella.
An 8-year-old child was also found fatally shot in the man’s car, according to the statement.
Although the bridge remains closed, officials said there is no threat to the general public.
The bridge connects Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with Kittery, Maine. It is considered the “busiest and most important bridge in Maine,” according to TYLin, a consultant for a construction project.
It has six lanes of traffic and is the only interstate highway connection to Maine. TYLin said “it is vital to freight traffic, commuters, and tourists.” About 78,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day, which increases to more than 130,000 vehicles during the summer.
In Portsmouth, northbound traffic was being diverted at Exit 7, according to WCVB. And Maine State Police are diverting traffic southbound at Exit 3 in Kittery, the news station reported.
