O P I N I O N
THE SOAPBOX
Stand up. Speak up. It’s your turn.
Residents of Manchester need to know about changes in the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT) 10-year plan and voice their opinions through the upcoming/ongoing public hearing process.
What is going on
NH DOT’s latest draft TYP (ten-year plan) is a significant cut and drastically impacts projects here in the Manchester area (butchering, I’ve been calling it)
What can folks do
Speak at the upcoming GACIT hearing(s)
- Manchester Community College, September 16 at 6 p.m.
- Run by Councilor John Stephen
Reach out to councilors, state reps, governor’s office, etc.
See public hearing linked below
- GACIT Hearing Schedule: https://www.dot.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt811/files/inline-documents/2025-gacit-public-hearing-schedule-final.pdf
- Public Hearing Notice: https://www.dot.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt811/files/inline-documents/gacit-fall-2025-initial-public-notice.pdf
- Draft Ten-Year Plan Book: https://www.dot.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt811/files/inline-documents/typ-2027-2036-book-gacit-draft_0.pdf
- Project Recommendations: https://www.dot.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt811/files/inline-documents/dot-capital-project-recommendations.pdf
Additional Information
The ‘Project Recommendations’ document that NH DOT has published on their website (linked above), goes fairly in depth on what was added/removed, but it does not cover the projects that were delayed or otherwise changed in the draft. To get that information, I watched the Southern NH Planning Commission’s latest TAC and MPO meetings, where slides were presented covering the changes.
- Most recent SNHPC TAC meeting where this was discussed:
- Most recent SNHPC MPO meeting where this was discussed:
The following is a more comprehensive list of changes to the projects in/affecting Manchester that I’ve compiled, including delays or other timeline changes:
DELAYS/REMOVALS
- Manchester 15837: Bridge Rehab, Elm Street over B&M RR
- Start of construction delated FY25 to FY29
- This was already known, though, through previous amendments. Not directly caused by these draft cuts
- Manchester 16099: I-293 Exits 6 &7 7 Rebuild
- Start of construction delayed beyond 2036.
- All construction funding removed from TYP.
- Manchester 40563: Airport Studies, Preservation, Modernization, Expansion
- No assumed amount for FY 35 or FY 36.
- Manchester 41594: Operational Improvements at I-293 Exit 1
- Project fully removed
- Manchester 42886: Construct roundabout at Derryfield School Entrance/Bicentennial Drive
- Start of construction delayed from FY 25 to FY 27.
- This was already known, though, through previous amendments. Not directly caused by these draft cuts
- Manchester 43850: I-293 Eddy Road/Exit 6 SB On-ramp Intersection Safety Improvements
- Start of construction delayed from FY 26 to FY 28.
- Manchester 44221: I-93 Exit 8/Wellington Road Improvements including Limited Bike Lanes
- Project fully removed
- Manchester/Hooksett 43071A: Resurfacing NB I-93 from Exit 6 Northerly to I-293
- Completion delayed from FY 25 to FY 27.
ADDITIONS
- Manchester 44780: Replacement of Concrete Box Culvert under NH Route 121, East of Traffic Circle
- New project added.
- Construction in FY 27.
- Manchester 45253: Construct multimodal improvements, traffic calming, safety enhancements adjacent to Livingston Park
- New project added.
- Preliminary engineering in FY 28 and FY 30.
- Right of way in FY 30.
- Construction in FY 33.
- Manchester-Hooksett-Bow: Rehab of Manchester-Hooksett-Bow Rigid Frames & IB-C Bridges
- New turnpike project added.
- Engineering in FY 32 – FY 33.
- Construction in FY 33 – FY 34.
If you’re wondering about the new project, Manchester 45253, this is the TAP grant that Manchester recently applied for, and was awarded.