The next step is coming up in the long, expensive process of adding another lane in both directions of I-93 through Concord and of upgrading of interchanges in the city and Bow.
The Department of Transportation will hold the first formal public hearing on the plan, as compared to earlier informal public information hearings, in Concord on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The hearing will feature at least three members of the Executive Council and members of a special legislative committee. If they approve the proposal then the project can move into a final design phase, which is needed before the project, estimated to cost around $260 million, can get all the funding in the state’s 10-year highway plan.
While the main point is to add an extra lane in each direction on about five miles of the turnpike to ease congestion at peak traffic times, much of the complication and cost comes from related redesign and reconstruction of five exits. These include the Interstate 89 interchange in Bow as well as exits 12 through 15. Some changes would be relatively minor, such as creating two roundabouts at the end of the ramps on Exit 12, but the Bow interchange and the almost overlapping exits 14 and 15 would see major changes.
Construction won’t start until 2024 at the earliest, and will take around a decade.
Much of the money to pay for this work has also yet to be appropriated. The state’s 10-year highway plan through 2028 includes $61.4 million, about $46.5 million of which is for actual construction starting in 2024. Backers think the project will qualify for some federal funding.
The public hearing will be held at the Department of Transportation, 7 Hazen Drive in Concord, beginning at 7 p.m. The building will be open at 6 p.m. so plans can be inspected in advance.
Written statements and other exhibits may be submitted to the Chairman of the Special Committee, c/o Peter Stamnas, Director of Project Development, NH Department of Transportation, PO Box 483, Concord, NH 03302-0483 up to 30 days after the date of this hearing for inclusion in the official record.
More information can be found on the project website at www.i93bowconcord.com
(David Brooks can be reached at 369-3313 or dbrooks@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @GraniteGeek.)
