Seasonal Construction Impacts
MAPLEWOOD AVE. & CONGRESS STREET INTERSECTION
Severino Construction is removing the temporary sidewalk pavement at the corner and constructing the permanent brick sidewalk. There will be no construction the week of May 6. Construction resumes May 13. The work is being funded by the 147 Congress Street project developer at the City’s request and is anticipated to take a few weeks but will be completed before the intensive visitor season. The area in front of Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club and the Maplewood side of the former Health Food Store (now Bao 155) will also be impacted.
DEER STREET BETWEEN BRIDGE ST. & MAPLEWOOD AVE.
Monday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 14 a crew will be excavating Deer Street in the block between Bridge and Maplewood, starting at 9 am each day.
BORTHWICK AVENUE
Work at Portsmouth Regional Hospital will affect Borthwick Avenue during the week of May 13 as follows: May 13-14, milling and preparing the road (and Portsmouth Regional Hospital parking lot) for paving. May 15, pave Borthwick Avenue sidewalk. May 17, pave Borthwick Avenue.
SKATE PARK CONSTRUCTION
Construction on the parking area continues. This will limit available on-site parking at times. Installation of the final trench drain at the entrance takes place Monday, May 6 with paving planned for Tuesday, May 7. Striping will be scheduled when weather allows. All construction is planned to conclude by the May 18 (11 am) ribbon-cutting. the Skate Park is open, dawn to dusk. For details, visit the Skate Park page.
HYDRANT FLUSHING
The DPW Water Division continues its seasonal routine flushing of fire hydrants and water mains. The flushing takes place at various locations, Monday through Thursday, between 7 am and 11 pm, and is expected to take six weeks to complete. Hydrant flushing can result in discoloration in tap water, but the water remains safe. Once flushing is completed in their area, customers can check their water clarity by running cold water to flush their plumbing systems. If the discoloration persists, customers should report the issue on the DPW Click ‘n’ Fix system to ensure a prompt response.
HANOVER GARAGE
The Hanover Street entrance is now open with new payment processing technology (much like at Foundry Garage). Current Hanover pass holders need new pass cards. To receive a new pass card bring the old one to the main Foundry Garage office. Work continues on the Hanover Garage which 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 PROJECTS
Market Street
Starting Monday, May 13, 2024, the Department of Public Works will perform paving on the section of Market Street between Deer Street and Hanover Street. The work requires the closure of the street to all vehicular traffic and no parking between 7 am and 6 pm, Monday May 13 through Friday, May 17, 2024. The anticipated schedule is to mill and prepare the roadway starting Monday, May 13, with paving on Thursday and final striping on Friday, weather-permitting. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic around the work area. Sidewalks on Market Street and access to businesses will remain open to pedestrian traffic throughout the work. Signage will help guide pedestrians to the affected businesses.
Islington Street Phase 2A & 2B
Construction on the Islington Street Corridor Reconstruction Project has resumed with single-lane alternating traffic and flaggers in place. The work will complete Phase 2A of construction from Dover Street to Cornwall Street and then move onto Phase 2B from Cornwall Street to Middle Street. This week Phase 2A is completing sidewalk work. In Phase 2B, Section 1 from Cornwall to Brewster: Continue sewer installation. Section 2 from Parker Street to Maplewood Avenue: Begin temporary water main installation. A water shutdown at Tanner Street is anticipated to install the temporary water main in this area. Water shutdown notices will be distributed to residents in advance of this shutdown. Brief water disruptions are anticipated between Cornwall Street to Brewster Street to connect residents to the temporary water main. Owners/residents will be notified 48 hours in advance of any scheduled water main shutdowns. For the 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.
Pannaway Manor Sidewalks Project Phase 2
Phase 2 begins with tree removals and the planting of trees to replace those removed in Phase 1, from April 29 to May 10. Sidewalk demolition and reconstruction on Decatur and Mason Street will start the week of May 13. For the March 20, 2024 meeting presentation and video recording, additional background and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts visit the project page.
Bartlett Street Project
Work has begun, starting with underground utility prep from Hodgdon Brook towards Woodbury Avenue. The Contractor, Albanese D&S, has installed the temporary water main. Over the course of the next few days, properties from Hodgdon Brook to Thorton Street will be transferred over to the temporary water main. The Contractor will notify the property owners prior to the transfer as water will be shut off to the house during the activity (approx.15 minutes at each property). On Wednesday May 8, Albanese D&S will start daily closures, 7 am to 5 pm, of Bartlett Street between Woodbury Ave. and Hodgdon Brook. There will be a detour in place and the road will be re-opened every night.
Access to properties within the construction zone will be provided. 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 Project Preconstruction Meeting
This project includes repairs to the culvert and other safety upgrades. The Preconstruction Public Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 6 pm in City Hall Conference Room A, 1 Junkins Avenue. This is a hybrid meeting held in-person and via Zoom. Click here to register for participation by Zoom. For additional background and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts, visit the project page. Work is anticipated to begin in early June.
Union Street Project
The Contractor, MAC Construction, has started seasonal work. The week of May 6 they will connect homes between Austin Street and State Street to temporary water mains to facilitate construction of the new sanitary sewer system. There will be short-duration water shutdowns as they connect the temporary water services at each home. Residents will be notified in advance if their water is to be shut down. Sewer main installation is anticipated to begin May 9, starting near Austin Street and working toward State Street.
For more information in the April 2, 2024 meeting presentation and video recording, additional background and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project when it starts, visit the project page.Willard Avenue Project
Construction on this project is anticipated to start in June. For the April 17 Preconstruction meeting presentation and video recording, more information and to sign up for future email updates, visit the project page.
Corporate Drive Project
The Corporate Drive project is underway. Construction started in the area of Goosebay Drive.
LITTLE BAY WATER TRANSMISSION LINE VALVE PROJECT
The Valve Improvement Project is replacing obsolete valves on the existing cast iron water mains on either side of Little Bay. City of Portsmouth/Towns of Durham and Newington are working with contractor SUR to install temporary erosion control measures, temporary driveway access, culvert, stone wall dismantling and construction staging. For more information and updates on the project, go to the project website.
I-95 SOUND BARRIER CONSTRUCTION
NH DOT anticipates starting construction on the I-95 Pannaway Manor sound barrier in April 2024 once final plans are approved in mid-March. NH DOT plans another public meeting, date TBD.
WOODBURY AVENUE
Based on input and feedback received, the City Council has referred this project back to Parking & Traffic Safety. For more information, visit the Woodbury Avenue project page.
PEVERLY HILL ROAD COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT
NHDOT has approved the Preliminary Design (the Phase where the project has remained for the past 7 yeas) and has given the City authorization to proceed with Final Design and Right of Way Phase to obtain the necessary land for construction of the project. The PS&E package is then submitted to the DOT for review and approval. Following NHDOT review of next steps, construction could possibly begin as soon as 2025. Go to Peverly Hill Road Complete Streets Project page.
RAIL TRAIL PROJECT
NH DOT continues to clear and grade the NH Seacoast Greenway “rail trail” off Banfield Road and to remove railroad ties. The project is on schedule with final detailing anticipated by October 2024. In Portsmouth, the route follows the 3.6 miles of the former abandoned rail corridor between Barberry Lane and the Greenland town line. This is a four-phase project on the Seacoast. Phase 1, which is being worked on now, will be a stretch of compact sandstone stretching from Portsmouth to North Hampton.