NH Executive Council to vote on Everett Turnpike widening

The Executive Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the first project to widen the Everett Turnpike south of Manchester.If approved, a third lane in each direction would be added between the Bedford tolls and the 101 — 293 interchange.New Hampshire, being the Granite State, a lot of rock is going to have to be moved.The Everett Turnpike carries a lot more traffic today than when it first opened in the 1950s.The Department of Transportation is preparing to widen the remaining two-lane sections between Manchester and Nashua , starting with the stretch north of the Bedford tolls.”We’re very excited about this project because it’s actually the first of a series of about four major construction projects we’re going to be advertising along the corridor,” NHDOT project manager Wendy Johnson said. The biggest challenge for workers will be just south of the River Road underpass.”You’ll notice that there’s a lot of bedrock that runs along the edges and we need to remove that,” Johnson said. “That’s going to be one of the most difficult components for the contractor.”During blasting, drivers can expect delays.”We will slow traffic down almost to a near stop. They will do the blast. They will clean the blast up. They will put traffic right back onto the configuration where it was then we will be moving traffic again,” Johnson said. Not only will cars be stopped on the Everett Turnpike, but they would likely be stopped on nearby parts of Routes 101 and 3 as well.Signs will be up to warn drivers of the blasting closures which will only happen between the hours of 10 am and 2 pmThe DOT asks everyone for their patience during construction.But when it’s all done, it’s going to be three lanes, and the improvement to capacity and safety is going to be wonderful,” Johnson said. If approved Wednesday, construction would likely begin this summer with the widening completed in the summer of 2024. Work to add a third lane from Merrimack to Nashua will follow.

CONCORD, NH —

The Executive Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the first project to widen the Everett Turnpike south of Manchester.

If approved, a third lane in each direction would be added between the Bedford tolls and the 101 — 293 interchange.

New Hampshire, being the Granite State, a lot of rock is going to have to be moved.

The Everett Turnpike carries a lot more traffic today than when it first opened in the 1950s.

The Department of Transportation is preparing to widen the remaining two-lane sections between Manchester and Nashua, starting with the stretch north of the Bedford tolls.

“We’re very excited about this project because it’s actually the first of a series of about four major construction projects we’re going to be advertising along the corridor,” NHDOT project manager Wendy Johnson said.

The biggest challenge for workers will be just south of the River Road underpass.

“You’ll notice that there’s a lot of bedrock that runs along the edges and we need to remove that,” Johnson said. “That’s going to be one of the most difficult components for the contractor.”

During blasting, drivers can expect delays.

“We will slow traffic down almost to a near stop. They will do the blast. They will clean the blast up. They will put traffic right back onto the configuration where it was then we will be moving traffic again,” Johnson said.

Not only will cars be stopped on the Everett Turnpike, but they would likely be stopped on nearby parts of Routes 101 and 3 as well.

Signs will be up to warn drivers of the blasting closures which will only happen between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm

The DOT asks everyone for their patience during construction.

But when it’s all done, it’s going to be three lanes, and the improvement to capacity and safety is going to be wonderful,” Johnson said.

If approved Wednesday, construction would likely begin this summer with the widening completed in the summer of 2024.

Work to add a third lane from Merrimack to Nashua will follow.