Report #7
April 3, 2008

MEMO

TO:      Governor John Lynch, Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu, Congressman Paul Hodes and Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter,
Jeff Brillhart, Assistant Commissioner NH DOT
NH House Speaker Terie Norelli, NH Senate President
Sylvia Larson, Senators; John Gallus, Deb Reynolds, Joe Kenney, Peter Burling, Kathy Sgambati and Bob Odell

FROM: Executive Councilor Raymond Burton
DATE:  March 17, 2008
RE:      Good Roads Bad Roads Tour of District One

It is customary for me to conduct an annual Bad Roads/Good Roads Tour in District One of a section of NH’s secondary roads to view certain places or projects that have been of benefit to the citizens as well as certain places that are in need of repair and upgrading.

On March 14, 2008, NH DOT Director of Operations Lyle Knowlton, DOT District Engineers Greg Placy and Alan Hanscom, Lincoln State Representative Edmund Gionet, Will Wrobliski of Senator Sununu's office, Lisa Levine and Steve Huntington from Congressman Hodes office,  Bath Selectman, Robert Cope, Annemarie and Joel Godston of Haverhill, NH, DOT Patrolmen John Hilliard, Mark Lavoie, and Rois Clark, Mary Deppe, North Country Council Transportation staff, and John Ouellette, Intern to my State House office toured NH Routes 112, 135, and the Route 302 /10 Intersection Area.

Our first stop was at the Lost River Facility on Route 112 where in 2006 the New Hampshire Department of Transportation installed a RWIS (Road Weather Information System) to collect and displays data from a network of pavement and atmospheric sensors to provide up-to-date site-specific weather and pavement conditions around the State. A detailed explanation was given by NH DOT on the 11 informational collection towers and how the information collected here is utilized in highway treatments on a year round basis.  Greg Placy demonstrated on his lap top computer how accessible this information is to DOT in Concord, NH and all the patrol shed crews.

The next stop was at the intersection of Route 112 and 116 with a briefing on a 7 million dollar 7 mile completed upgrade of this section and how well it has held up this year.

Our next stop was along the Wild Ammonoosuc River where about 10 years ago a lift ( 20inches of gravel over-layed on frost heaves) has held up very well over the years without frost heaves or potholes. This treatment costs about $300,000 per mile.

The next stop was along the Wild Ammonoosuc River where severe frost heaves have created a safety factor.

We stopped next at the Route 112 and 302 Intersection where NH DOT has installed guardrails to prevent any vehicles from rolling down a steep embankment into a campground.

Wal-Mart recently opened a facility in Woodsville, NH. Alan Hanscom outlined how the Wal-Mart Company has paid over 2 million dollars in design and construction costs to re-shape Routes 302 and 112, install controlled lighting systems, and will do final paving and lines to ensure safe entry and exit to this new store as part of the curb cut approval.

Bath Selectmen Bob Cope then spoke at two stops along Route 135 in Bath, NH and explained how this section of highway has deteriorated over the years.

Moving on again it was explained that the cor-ten safety fence dividing the highway through Franconia Notch is rusting and is no longer capable of serving its original purpose of keeping traffic from being involved in head on collisions.  

A summary lunch and further discussion was held in Lisbon, NH.

Based on this 5 hour tour, I would hereby request the NH Congressional Delegation seek funding for:

1.  Enhancing the 11Weather Information Collection Towers (add cameras and digital capabilities) at approximately  $1.5 million.

2.  A major repaving of sections of Route 112 along the Wild Ammonoosuc River cost:  $20 million  ($2 million per mile) (NH DOT to determine what sections/miles should be done)

3. Install new Safety Divider Fence in Franconia Notch cost: $15.million

Within the NH DOT proposed transportation plan currently before the NH Legislature, there are possible matching funds that can be used to leverage and enhance these requests.

The NH DOT is to be commended for the outstanding work they have done this winter in keeping our roads and bridges open and safe under severe weather conditions.

May I hear from you?

Ray Burton

Represents all the towns and cities in Coos and Grafton counties as well as the cities and towns of Albany, Alton, Bartlett, Belmont, Center Harbor, Charlestown, Chatham, Claremont, Conway, Cornish, Croydon, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Gilford, Grantham, Hale's Location(unincorporated place), Hart's Location, Jackson, Laconia, Madison, Meredith, Moultonborough, New Hampton, Newport, Ossipee, Plainfield, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Springfield, Sunapee, Tamworth, Tilton, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, and Wolfeboro.
For additional information on the cities and towns in this district, go to www.nh.gov/municipal/.

Councilor Burton may be contacted at two locations: his State House Office at 603-271-3632, rburton@nh.gov;and at his home office at 747-3662, ray.burton4@gte.net.