Construction Impacts

Projects of Note

Deer Street Paving

As part of the annual pavement management program, DPW will pave Deer Street between Russell Street and Market Street starting Monday, August 11, 2025. The work will last 6-7 days and will mean no parking is allowed on either side of Deer Street in that block, 7 am to 6 pm.

South End Paving

Weather permitting, resurfacing and no parking planned for Fri Aug 15 on Hancock, Gates, Washington and South School Streets plus Humphrey's Court; and on Mon Aug 18, 2025 on Ridges Court, Fernald Court, Ball St., Baycliff Rd., Driftwood Ln., Pleasant Point Dr., Boyan Pl., Moebus Terr , Robin Ln.. Work hours from 7 am to 4 pm. The City began a Pavement Condition Management Program in 1993 and implements a rotating schedule of maintenance based on road conditions and budget requirements to maintain street conditions at the current level.

Hanover Garage

Starting Monday, August 11, the Hanover Street entrance to the garage and one exit lane will be closed for 3-4 weeks to work on the masonry arches. Work hours are 7 am to 6 pm. The entrance/exit lanes will reopen on the weekends. 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.

DPW Facilities Improvements

The construction crew has started placing the steel framing for the expanded facilities behind the building at 680 Peverly Hill Road. Work will continue 7 days a week (including Saturday and Sunday), 7 am to 6 pm, through November to complete the work before the end of the construction season. The work does not affect access to the Recycling Center. For more information, go to the project page.

Seasonal Construction Project Updates

Islington Street

Advance Notice: Paving planned for week of August 25. 
Week of August 11:  Motorists should use caution around the raised manhole covers. They will have asphalt surrounding them to 'soften' the edges but will still be raised above the road surface. Phase 2a Construction Area – Dover to Cornwall: Raising manhole covers/castings. Phase 2b Construction Area -- Cornwall to Maplewood:  Section 1- Cornwall Street to Bridge Street: Raising manhole covers/castings. Section 2 – Legion to State Street:  Raising manhole covers/castings; restoring yard areas. Section 3 -- Maplewood Avenue Intersection:  Landscaping and Bridge Street Lot sidewalk prep. 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, visit the project page. 

Bartlett Street

The final placement of paving and site restoration on Bartlett Street is scheduled to proceed as follows: Week of August 4 – Final pavement markings. The Morning Street scope of work is currently on HOLD and will be reevaluated along with future phases of work in the Creek Neighborhood. 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, visit the project page.

Maplewood Avenue Bridge

Week of August 11: Work continues within the bridge closure limits on the south side. Construction activity includes continued reconstruction of the south side retaining wall, replacing concrete with stone blocks. Bridge has re-opened to one-lane, inbound to downtown traffic. The balance of the bridge work will continue on the south side through November as the contractor replaces the sidewalks and railings. The outbound lane will remain closed throughout the summer. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times via the northern sidewalk. For detour options, the meeting presentation, design plans, additional background and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project, visit the project page.

Union Street

Paving is complete. Weeds will be managed and loamed areas will be re-seeded in the fall. Following up on punchlist items. For more information in the April 2, 2024 meeting presentation and video recording and to sign up to receive weekly updates on the project, visit the project page.

Willard Avenue 

UPDATE:  The contractor continues paving driveway connections on Mon-Tues Aug 11-12. Striping will be done in the next few weeks, with advance notice.  Weed removal will be done soon, with reseeding planned in September. For the original project preconstruction meeting presentation and video recording, more information and to sign up for future email updates, visit the project page.

Vaughan Mall Reconstruction

A public information meeting was held July 7, 2025 to discuss options for the landscape redesign of Vaughan Mall once the underground infrastructure is replaced. A pre-construction meeting on that work, scheduled to start after Labor Day, is scheduled for August 20 at 6 pm in City Hall Conference Room A. For the meeting presentations, more information and to sign up for future email updates, 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. Please note that the pedestrian crossing lights are not functional at this time. Their replacement is part of the bigger project. As a reminder to pedestrians, at a crossing where there are no pedestrian signals, pedestrians must obey the red, yellow, or green signal lights, crossing when traffic in their intended path is stopped. Driver must yield to pedestrians at all times.

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. Paving is complete and the Town of Newington is completing touch-up details. 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

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