Report #7

April 2, 2008

Mr. Jeff Brillhart
Assistant Commissioner
NH Department of Transportation
Hazen Drive

Dear Jeff,

On Friday March 28, 2008 I conducted a second Bad Roads/Good Roads Tour.  This tour started at NH DOT Shed 201 in Orford, NH, where District Engineer, Alan Hascom; Gerry Morse, Patrol Foreman; and District Foreman, Dennis Ford, briefed me on a successful one mile of overlay on Route 10 which has proven to be very stable throughout this severe winter.

Our next stop was Route 25 C near Lake Tarleton where Cary Weatherbee and Civil Engineer, Robert Eaton explained in detail how a four foot plastic tubing system in a drilled hole into the pavement can detect temperature electronically and this information combined with a falling weight deflectometer will more accurately determine what roads should be closed during the spring months of frost thaw out. Both Patrolman Weatherbee and Engineer Eaton have years of experience and dedication to NH DOT. We are fortunate to have them in state service.

Our next stop was at DOT Patrol Shed 202 in Wentworth where 3 snowplow crews came in for lunch.  This shed has some 78 miles of ‘lane miles’ to maintain, many of which are with a good crop of frost heaves and potholes presenting a serious safety concern to low truck drivers as they carefully navigate over them.  These drivers remain proud of their work and continue to be devoted state employees.

Cary Weatherbee then explained the entire communication radio system and the ability of each patrol shed foreman to connect with the NH DOT Rural Weather Information System towers from around the state which can read weather conditions, pavement temperature, wind speed and humidity readings.

Alan Hanscom gave me a detailed lesson in the gasoline distribution system, which is now at selected patrol sheds throughout the state.

Other conclusions included filling vacant positions, building the workforce to former levels of operation, developing and instilling in new hires a higher work ethic and attachment.

Sincerely yours,

Ray Burton

c.c.  Governor Lynch
Lyle Knowlton, DOT Director of Operations
Alan Hascom, District Two Engineer

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.