Interstate Route 293 is a major, north-south, arterial circumferential highway extending through and around the City of Manchester. It also functions as a local connection to Interstate 93 (north and south), NH Route 101 (east and west) and US Route 3 (F.E. Everett Turnpike south to Nashua and into Massachusetts) and thus providing critical accessibility and mobility within the greater Manchester area as well as throughout southern New Hampshire.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has initiated a project, Manchester 16099, to address the transportation needs of a 3-mile segment of I-293 extending northerly from the Granite Street interchange (Exit 5) to approximately one mile north of the NH Route 3A interchange (Exit 7) in Manchester, NH. The project design will be conducted in three phases:
Part A consists of a planning-level study,
Part B consists of preparing preliminary engineering plans and environmental documentation suitable for a Design Public Hearing and formal project approval, and
Part C consists of the preparation of final design plans.
The Part A planning-level study, which was completed in December 2013, evaluated potential broad transportation system changes and established a range of practicable alternatives aimed at addressing capacity and safety related deficiencies along I-293 and at the Exit 6 and Exit 7 interchanges. The study also considered relocating and reconfiguring Exit 7 into a full directional interchange.
The Part B preliminary engineering and environmental documentation phase of the project, which is currently underway, will continue to develop and refine the alternatives identified under Part A. The refinement process will include: 1) use of a context-sensitive solution approach to determining a preferred alternative, 2) identifying all impacted natural and cultural resources with identified potential minimization/mitigation, 3) prepare an Environmental Document for the preferred alternative, 4) prepare a public hearing plan of the preferred alternative, and 5) implement a sustainable highway screening and decision toll (INVEST 1.0)
The Part B study schedule extends through May of 2018.
The Part C final design will proceed from the selected alternative developed in Part B. The final design includes further development of engineering plans and permitting. Right-of-way in the form of easements and acquisitions, will be acquired as needed, and construction documents will be prepared. Final design is complete when the project has received all permits and approvals, is advertised for construction bids, and is awarded to a contractor. The start of construction is based upon available funding, contractor schedule, and weather. Refer to the Schedule page of this website for the estimated construction start dates.
The overall project has been broken into the following projects:
16099 (PE and ROW) consists of Preliminary Engineering (PE) including final design and Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisition costs.
16099A (Exit 6) consists of the reconstruction of Exit 6 to a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) and the widening of I-293 to three lanes in each direction.
16099B (Exit 7) consists of the reconstruction and relocation of Exit 7 to a fully directional interchange and the widening of I-293 to three lanes in each direction.
Public and Stakeholder Participation
Key to the development and refinement of the alternatives is an open and consensus-driven public participation process that engages all stakeholders. Good planning practice involves a mutual learning process among practitioners, elected officials, residents, business groups, citizen groups and other affected parties. Your thoughts and ideas are critical to crafting and refining smart transportation solutions that are practical, permitable, affordable and context sensitive in meeting the areas transportation needs. View Feedback/Mailing List Form
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) actively seeks comments through a public participation process. Learn more about Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act in New Hampshire and how to take part in a Consulting Party.
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