Plans to expand sections of I-93 and I-89 in Concord and Bow, a project that has been in the planning stage for over a decade, are projected to cost $370 million, 50% higher than projections before the pandemic.
The project would add a lane in both directions over a five-mile stretch of I-93 in Concord. This would also adjust Exits 12-15, as well as Exit 1 on I-89 in Bow. The first major construction would happen in 2029.
Additional non-car related work such as expanding the Merrimack River Greenway Trail, adjusting railroad tracks and adding bicycle and pedestrian lanes would also be included in this project.
The overall goal of the project is to help cars and trucks move more freely on the highway, with the most crucial part being the repairs on bridges. 33 bridges would be repaired or replaced during this project.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NH DOT), it has “programmed Federal Highway and Turnpike Toll funds to pay for the project, with no local funds.”
There are many benefits to this project, as the Bow-Concord area has seen an uprise in traffic due to tourists in the fall, and this plan would reduce congestion on these stretches of roads. However, this also sparks controversy because of a term called induced demand. Induced demand means that the wider you make the roads, the more drivers will come, so it would be just as crowded as it was before with even more cars.
This project will benefit many in the Bow-Concord area. Not only will it free up congestion, but it will also allow repairs on bridges that are in critical need. Six of the 33 bridges being repaired in this project are “red-listed,” meaning they are in the most need of repair according to state engineers. There are 120 bridges in the state on this red list.
The start of this project could inspire other projects similar where more of these red-listed bridges would be fixed.
Another plan brought up by city officials is to build a separate pedestrian bridge crossing the Merrimack River, which would connect the two halves of Concord.
The Merrimack River is clean enough now, after many environmental improvements, that people want to use it in recreational ways. However, the river was originally used as an industrial corridor and a form of transportation when Concord was first founded in the 19th century. The western bank is lined with roads, railroads and electrical transmission systems, important infrastructure that gets in the way of recreation.
Many Concord residents have been pushing transportation planners to consider this idea more, as they feel it would better connect the city with the river. They see the I-93 expansion as their best chance in achieving this goal.
Building a pedestrian bridge would be very beneficial, as it could serve for exercise purposes, transportation to get between the two halves of the city or even a tourist attraction.
This project is pivotal to better living conditions in N.H., and it is exciting that headway is finally being made after a decade of planning.
Jaden Johnson can be contacted at
