PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The center span recently removed from a bridge shared by Maine and New Hampshire has floated out to sea aboard a barge, on its way to a recycling center.

The span was removed from the 90-year-old bridge last week. The barge was inspected by the Coast Guard before it could shove off Wednesday.

The Portsmouth Herald reports the span is expected to be taken to a scrap yard in the Boston area.

A new bridge connecting Portsmouth, N.H., to Kittery, Maine, is expected to open in July 2013.