Construction Impacts

Projects of Note

Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility Open House

The public is invited to tour the Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility at an Open House, Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 10 am to 1 pm. More information

I-95 On Ramp Closed

The I-95 southbound on ramp at Exit 7 from Market Street will be closed from Tuesday, May 27 through Friday, June 20 for construction related to the NHDOT soundwall project.

Hanover Garage

The Hanover Street entrance is CLOSED, now through Friday, June 6 for the application of the surface coat. Each coat of the necessary 4 coats must cure for a day to apply the surface coat. The final coat requires an additional 72-hour curing time. This schedule is conservative allowing some time for unforeseen issues that may arise. The High Street Elevator remains operational during the construction. The Hanover Garage is in year two of a three-year renovation. Questions? Contact the Parking Office at 603-610-7257. Go to the Hanover Garage Project page for more information.

Seasonal Construction Project Updates

Paving

Started May 27: Paving Church Street, Porter Street, and Peirce Island Road. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic. 

Islington Street

Work on the traffic signals structure at the intersection of Islington/Congress Streets and Maplewood/Middle resumes June 2. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic. Expect delays. Work should be finished by the end of June.  Phase 2b Construction Area Section 1- Cornwall Street to Langdon Street: No work anticipated. Section 2 – Langdon Street to Maplewood Ave: East Cost Signals work in the intersection. Sidewalk installation, grading and paving the brick areas. Section 3 -- Legion to State Street: Possible drainage main installation. By the end of the summer season, all portions of the Islington Street project should be complete. For the project overview: March 19, 2024 public meeting presentation and video recording, additional background information and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts, visit the project page.

Greenleaf Avenue Sidewalks

Week of June 2 – Complete installation of base materials. Possible placing of concrete sidewalks (tentative). A public information meeting on the project was held on April 16. Go to the meeting video recording and the presentation. For more information and to sign up to receive email updates on the project, go to the project page.

Bartlett Street

The final work on this project (place the final pavement, roadway striping, raised crosswalk at Pine Street, raised intersection at Thornton Street) is tentatively scheduled to start the first week of June 2025 and be completed by June 30, 2025. The Morning Street scope of work is currently on HOLD and will be reevaluated along with future phases of work in the Creek Neighborhood. During the week of March 31, 2025 DPW Urban Forest crews will be planting new trees along the Bartlett Street corridor as part of the City’s annual planting program. For the March 27, 2024 public meeting presentation and video recording, additional background information and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts, visit the project page.

Maplewood Avenue Bridge

Maplewood Avenue Bridge is AGAIN CLOSED TO VEHICLES to finish utility upgrades and to replace the roadbed and north side sidewalks and railings. The bridge will remain closed through mid-June. Work within the construction limits during the week of May 26 includes: Reconstruction of the northern rail support slab. Once the north side of the bridge is finished, the current plan is to open one lane of the bridge for traffic heading toward downtown for the balance of the bridge work as the contractor replaces the sidewalks and railings on the south side. The current schedule shows the bridge work being complete in early November. Pedestrians and cyclists (walking their bikes) will have access across the bridge on whatever side is not currently under construction.  For detour options, the meeting presentation, design plans, additional background and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts, visit the project page.

Union Street

MAC Construction will return to raise catch basins, manhole covers, and other castings to prepare for final paving. Final paving of Union Street (State to Middle), Coffins Court, and the remaining driveway aprons will follow. The work is anticipated to finish prior to summer.  For more information in the April 2, 2024 meeting presentation and video recording and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts, visit the project page.

Willard Avenue Project

Week of June 2:  N. Granese & Sons to begin drainage work on Ash Street and will continue for two weeks. No parking on Ash Street, 7 am to 5 pm during that construction work. Granese will continue prepping Willard Avenue sidewalks with gravel. JCB Colby will begin installing formwork for the concrete sidewalks, starting on Orchard Street. It will take 2-3 days to install the forms before any concrete is poured. Residents and pets should AVOID WALKING ON THE NEW CONCRETE as it sets up. The concrete will be sectioned off with caution tape and covered with a plastic tarp while it sets up. Unitil has completed gas repair work. A public information meeting on the 2025 project work was held on April 2. Go to the meeting presentation and video recording from that meeting. For the original project preconstruction meeting presentation and video recording, more information and to sign up for future email updates, visit the project page.

Sagamore Avenue

This project consists of constructing a new sidewalk along the NHDOT roadway of Sagamore Avenue from approximately 1171 Sagamore Avenue to Odiorne Point Road. This work may begin after Greenleaf Avenue or Summit Avenue are completed. For details go to the meeting recording and minutes. For more information, visit the project page.

Middle/Miller/Summer Street Intersection Signals 

Construction is expected to start in September 2025. Electric Light is the contractor. For more information, visit the project page.

African Burying Ground Memorial

Final tile and sculpture finish work is scheduled to be completed before Juneteenth. The African Burying Ground Memorial Committee has reviewed the plans.

Little Bay Road Water Main Replacement

This joint project with the Town of Newington involves the installation of an eight-inch ductile iron water main and the replacement of 25 water services and four hydrants. Upon completion, the road will be patched and prepared for final pavement by the Town of Newington. The project is scheduled to be completed by mid-summer. A public information meeting was held on April 8, 2025 at the Newington Town Hall (336 Nimble Hill Rd, Newington, NH 03801). For more information, visit the project page.

NHDOT Projects in Portsmouth

I-95 Sound Barrier Construction

Work to install the sound wall continues. Exit 7 ramp, southbound onto I-95 from Market Street will be closed from Tuesday, May 27 through Friday, June 20 for construction related to the project. Governor Sununu and the Executive Council at their September 25, 2024 meeting authorized the NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to enter into a contract with Northeast Earth Mechanics, LLC of Pittsfield, NH for the construction of sound abatement walls and privacy fencing along I-95 in Portsmouth. The contract amount is $18,771,486.75. For full details and background visit the project page.

Route 16 On- and Off-Ramp Resurfacing

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) and Pike Industries have started pavement resurfacing on Route 16 (Spaulding Turnpike) from the Portsmouth Traffic Circle north into Newington. Work includes all the on and off ramps to and from I-95, Gosling Road, and Arthur Brady Drive. Most of this work will occur at overnight, beginning after the evening rush hour. Exact start times will depend on the location of the work. The project is expected to be complete in early June.

NHDOT Lafayette Road (Route 1)

NH Department of Transportation (NH DOT) presented updated plans for its Lafayette Road (Route 1) Corridor Improvement Project to the City Council on May 5. For background visit the Project Website (Portsmouth 29640) with the full US Route 1 Corridor Plan. NH DOT also advises that anyone with comments or concerns about this project should contact David Smith, P.E. - Project Manager, NH Department of Transportation | P.O. Box 483, Concord NH 03302