PORTSMOUTH - The lift span of the Memorial Bridge was lowered onto the barge “Cape Cod” this afternoon.

New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials said the span will be floated up river to the Port Authority pier to be secured between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. this evening. It will likely be floated down to Massachusetts tomorrow.

Large crowds gathered at Prescott Park and whooped and hollered as a warning whistle announced the final descent of the approximately 90-year-old span on Wednesday afternoon.

Portsmouth police were handling traffic in the parking lot closest to the bridge because of the crowds.