This NHDOT project includes roadway improvements to an approximately 1.7 mile stretch of US Route 1 in Portsmouth from Wilson Road to Ocean Road. The purpose of the project is to enhance traffic operations and improve safety for all travelers along this section. The City of Portsmouth has identified related projects in the City's Capital Improvement Plan, including the addition of separated bicycle and pedestrian paths and improvements to the pedestrian crossings at intersections within this corridor. These projects are also supported in the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This project will involve a multi-year design and engineering process and is not anticipated to start construction until 2031. Go to the NHDOT project web page.
Right-of-Way Re-Establishment efforts
Right-of-Way (ROW) Re-Establishment efforts are set forth under State law by RSA 228:35. ROW was established for what is now US 1 before 1800, so it is necessary to re-establish those guidelines given the business developments, property subdivisions, easement reservations and other modifications since then. Re-establishing the ROW is based upon research of all records dating back to its initial development.
A public information meeting on July 24, 2024 at Community Campus explained the necessity and is reflected in the US 1 corridor plans shared with the public at the informational meeting, all Project Advisory Committee meetings and City Council meetings.
This Re-Establishment effort was initiated in mid-April 2026 and right-of-way plans were provided to the Secretary of State on April 15, 2026.
Letters with a plan showing each owner’s respective property and the ROW Re-Establishment project impacts were sent via certified mail at the time of the recording of plans with the Secretary. The letter informed property owners they should contact NHDOT directly to discuss any concerns as the developers of the project and ROW layout. That NHDOT Right-of-Way Bureau contact is Jason Pohopek at 603-271-8251. The NHDOT Bureau of Highway Design project manager is Dave Smith at 603-271-2165.
Final Design Consultant Contract
The NHDOT and Stantec are completing the development of the final design scope and fee that will allow the project to move forward with engineering tasks, preparations for a public hearing and all necessary next steps.
Traffic Data Update
Stantec has collected updated traffic counts along the US 1 corridor.
Stantec will be re-assessing the traffic operations (signals, turn lanes, etc.) with the updated traffic data and expects to report by the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2026.
Environmental Permitting
The project development team is working to finalize the documentation to allow the project to progress towards a public hearing and will be publicly available for review when complete.
Public Hearing will be scheduled once the following steps are completed:
Complete the ROW Re-Establishment along US 1.
Complete environmental documentation
Identify members of a three-person commission for confirmation by Executive Councilor Stevens and then approved by the Governor and Council.
There is a queue of many projects progressing to public hearings; therefore there is no current target date for this public hearing.
When we do progress and are able to complete all the steps for a public hearing, there will be a significant public outreach effort to all the property owners and the public. Press releases will be issued, mailers to and expanded segment of the Portsmouth community, communication to City Officials, Executive Councilor, and other stakeholders.
US 1 Corridor Refinements north of Hoover Drive
The most recent plan update incorporates a shift of US 1 by 6 feet to the west, north of Hoover Drive. There is no need for any NHDOT acquisitions along the US 1 frontage beginning 200’ to the north of Hoover Drive along the east side.
However, temporary easement rights will be needed to enter onto these properties to construct slope and driveway connections. After completion of construction, the temporary easements and construction rights will expire.
This shift does not affect the ROW Re-Establishment effort, the sidewalk layout or the ROW needs along this segment as the ROW layout has included this shift since the early stages of the project development.
Project Funding
The engineering design cost estimate calls for $26 million (2026 dollars) for construction. The draft 2027-2036 Ten Year Plan allocated $12.8 million, with the balance moved out to 2031. The combination of those two factors means that the actual funds allocated will buy a lower level of improvements by 2031 due to the anticipated escalation of construction costs.
The US 1 project is not fully funded due to fiscal constraints in the Ten-Year Plan (TYP) as a whole because there were more projects in the TYP than available funding to support them. To work within the funding limitations, no new projects were introduced into the draft TYP. Some projects had the construction funding eliminated, some projects (including US 1 in Portsmouth) had funding capped, some projects had the balance of needed funding moved out to the future (also including the US 1 project). The draft TYP is targeted for sign off by the Governor in July 2026 (the TYP is updated every two years).
