Islington Street Corridor Reconstruction Project

Project Update for Week of November 18, 2024

Detours will be in effect at the Middle-Congress Street Intersection on Tuesday, November 12 to accommodate paving operations. Outbound traffic is being redirected to State Street. Bridge Street is closed. Bridge Street Parking Lot remains open. 

Limited access to Brewster Street to accommodate drainage installations. 

• A Public Pre-Construction Meeting was held on March 19, 2024. Go to the meeting presentation.
• The construction includes completion of Phase 2A, the section of Islington Street from Dover Street to Cornwall Street, and the launch of Phase 2B, from Cornwall to Middle Street.

• No significant work anticipated. 

Phase 2B, Section 1: Cornwall to Brewster: No significant work anticipated. Section 2: Brewster to Summer: Sewer main installation. Summer to Maplewood: Temporary sidewalk paving, driveway and street apron paving. 

Water Service Interruptions
Brief water disruptions may occur to connect residents to the temporary water main. Owners/Residents will be notified 48 hours in advance of any scheduled water main shutdowns.

Traffic Patterns
One-lane alternating traffic patterns are in place on Islington Street during work hours to accommodate contractor operations. Flaggers and project personnel will be on site to facilitate traffic flow.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dave Desfosses, construction Project Manager at (603) 766-1411 or email djdesfosses@cityofportsmouth.com

Public Meeting Presentation provided on March 8, 2023.

Work on the Corridor Project includes replacement of underground utilities (water sewer and storm drain), roadway reconstruction, curbing and sidewalk installations, and landscaping improvements (ornamental lighting, street trees, benches, etc.). The work will continue to proceed in discrete sections in order to limit the impact to residents and businesses; and will be a large step in the revitalization of the West End neighborhood. The goal of this project is to create a "complete street" and will include improvements to the streetscape, traffic signals, utilities, pedestrian facilities, transit and vehicular roadway.

The design incorporates the recommendations of several planning studies such as the 2009 Islington Street Improvement Action Plan, 2014 Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan and the "character-based" zoning public charrette. Utility design includes the design of drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage improvements, as well as utility coordination and design for natural gas, communications and electrical relocations of infrastructure. The design effort also includes improvements to parking and vehicular/pedestrian uses to determine proper lane widths, sidewalk widths, intersection designs and roadbed and pavement types and thicknesses.

Project Status: The City awarded a contract to Severino Construction of Candia, NH but due to cost increases across all sectors, the project was divided in two parts: Phase 2A in FY24 and Phase 2B in FY25.

Anticipated Completion:  Phase 2B completed Fall 2024

Funding Source/Status:  Phase 2B costs exceeding the current project budget are included in the FY24 CIP 

Designer/Contractor:    Underwood Engineers, Inc.