NH Governor & Council Approve NHDOT Contract for Portsmouth Sound Barriers

Governor Sununu and the Executive Council at their September 25, 2024 meeting authorized the NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to enter into a contract with Northeast Earth Mechanics, LLC of Pittsfield, NH for the construction of sound abatement walls and privacy fencing along I-95 in Portsmouth. The contract amount is $18,771,486.75. The next step is for NHDOT to issue a Notice to Proceed to the contractor.

The project will construct two new sound abatement walls on the southbound side of I-95 and a privacy fence along northbound I-95 adjacent to the New Franklin School. The southern soundwall starts near the Exit 3 southbound offramp, is interrupted by the Sherburne Road bridge, and then continues to where the Exit 4 southbound offramp for Spaulding Turnpike meets I-95 southbound.

The northern soundwall starts just north of Spaulding Turnpike underpass and runs north, interrupted by the Woodbury Avenue bridge and then continues to the Exit 7 southbound onramp.

The privacy fence is located on I-95 northbound, starts 275 feet north of Woodbury Avenue and continues north to the end of the New Franklin school property.

At a City Council presentation on November 15, 2021, NHDOT officials confirmed that the Pannaway Manor and Rockingham Avenue neighborhoods met the criteria for the construction of a sound barrier between the homes there and nearby I-95.

Due to an NHDOT project, completed in 2023, that allows for the use of the I-95 shoulder lanes from the Portsmouth traffic circle to the Maine and New Hampshire border during peak volume periods which adds capacity to the highway, the sound barrier projects qualified for State funding.

For more information and links to video recordings of the meetings and NHDOT presentations, visit: https://portsnh.co/soundbarriers.