Construction Impacts

Downtown Sidewalk Work 

Downtown Sidewalk Repair is anticipated this week, starting Wednesday. Crews will be working on the tip-down ramps that facilitate access in Market Square and on State and Pleasant Streets. Pedestrians will be redirected to the next crosswalk.

Contract One Sewer Rehabilitation

Construction on the Contract One Sewer Rehabilitation Project began Wednesday, March 18. The Sanitary Sewer System Rehabilitation and Improvements – Contract 1 project is required by the City’s Consent Decree with the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the project is to remove Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) in the City’s sewer collection system. I/I is when stormwater and groundwater enter the sewer collection system through deterioration in the sewer pipes or manholes. This results in increased sewer flows, more frequent Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) events, and increased sewer costs through pumping and treatment of otherwise clean water. The City accepted funds through the American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) to assist with costs related to design and construction. The ARPA funding deadline means the project must be completed by April 1, 2026.

  • Middle Street -- Saw cut work begins on Tuesday, April 21.
  • Ceres Street -- conduit lining work will be done before Memorial Day

Tide Mill Road, Greenland

The sections of Tide Mill Road on either side of Route 33 that were impacted by the work last fall will be paved starting the week of April 20, Greenland Police will direct traffic, as needed, for the work to proceed.

Elwyn Road

Construction continues, with alternating, single-lane traffic from 7 am to 6 pm. Tree clearing on the north side of Elwyn Road to improve sight lines at the intersection of Grant Street and Elwyn Road has been completed. Drainage installation and water infrastructure installation is ongoing toward Lafayette Road, with approximately 800 feet of drain line installed as of April 17, 2026. Property owners whose water services will be reconnected from 2-inch mains to 8-inch mains will receive advance notification prior to the start of this work.Flaggers will be in place to assist. The Department of Public Works hosted an Elwyn Road Reconstruction Project Public Information Meeting in the DPW Training Room (680 Peverly Hill Road in Portsmouth) on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. For meeting presentations, background and more information, visit the project page.

Elwyn Park

Intersection safety improvements at the corner of Garfield Road and McKinley Road require the removal of select trees within the public right-of-way. The City has received approval from the Tree’s and Greenery Committee to remove select trees to allow for the improvements.  Wetland permitting required for the work is currently in process. Basement inspections required for underground utility design have concluded. Public comments regarding proposed traffic improvements on Van Buren are currently being evaluated

Congress Street

For the week of April 20, 2026:

  • Sewer and drainage installations continue to reduce Congress Street to one lane in the work area on Monday and Tuesday.
  • Water main installation begins, working from Maplewood Avenue towards Fleet, as the end of the week.
  • Fleet Street closures will vary throughout the week when crews are working in the intersection of Fleet Street and Congress Street. Fleet Street will be closed either from Porter to Congress or from Hanover to Congress depending on the sequence of work. Message boards and traffic signs will be deployed in advance to notify motorists. Pedestrians will still be able to access and use sidewalks in the closure area. Businesses remain open and deliveries will be accommodated. Normal traffic circulation will be restored at the end of each workday.

The project work proceeds towards Maplewood Avenue with the sewer and drainage installations before moving on to begin work between Vaughan Mall and Fleet Street. This portion of work will also include the restoration of Congress Street in the fall of ’26 beginning after Labor Day. Work is scheduled to take place daily, Monday through Friday but there may be brief interruptions if conditions become too severe for crews to work effectively.

A pre-construction public information meeting for the project was held on December 9, 2025. For more information, visit the meeting presentation, the video recording of the meeting and the project page.