Through the cooperative efforts of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, local officials, the NH State Police, and the New Hampshire International Speedway, a comprehensive traffic control plan will once again be implemented on Sunday, July 22nd for the 98,000 spectators and 37,700 vehicles expected to attend the NASCAR Winston Cup race at the Loudon race track.

"The number of spectators and vehicles is expected to be the same as last year's events," says Gil Rogers, NHDOT's Assistant Director of Project Development and Chairman of the Traffic Control Committee. "The major difference is a green flag time of 2:05 pm, almost one hour later than last July's race. Everyone is asked to stay alert since the period of maximum traffic congestion is likely to be slightly different than in past years."

The traffic control measures planned for the July 22nd race involving NH Route 106, Interstate 393, and Interstate 93 include:

(1) On race day morning, NH Route 106 will be two lanes northbound and one lane southbound from I-393 to the intersection of Shaker Road. There will be three lanes northbound and one lane southbound from there to the NHIS south access road. As traffic builds up in the three northbound lanes, traffic control personnel will extend the three lanes southerly to a point near the NH Route 129 intersection.

(2) Also, on race day morning, Exit 15E of I-93 will be signed to allow two temporary lanes of traffic onto I-393. In order to reduce congestion on I-93 and promote safety, the northbound on-ramp at Interstate 93's Exit 14 from Loudon Road will be closed from 5:00 am to 11:00 am. The ramp traffic will be detoured to either Exit 1 of Interstate 393 via Fort Eddy Road or Exit 15 of I-93 via Bridge Street and North Main Street. Exit 1 eastbound to Fort Eddy Road will also be closed from 5:00 am to 11:00 am. Ramp traffic will be detoured via Stickney Avenue off I-393 or Exit 2 of I-393 (East Side Drive).

(3) NH Route 106, between I-393 in Concord and NHIS, will be converted to a temporary three lane one-way southbound roadway between approximately 3:00 pm and 9:30 pm. For safety reasons, the intersections of the following roads with NH Route 106 will be closed during the one-way conversion: Hollow Route Road, Gues Meadow Road, Mudgett Hill Road, Clough Pond Road, Currier Road, Sheep Rock Road, South Village Road, Wales Bridge Road, Staniels Road, and Josiah Bartlett Road. Motorists using Clough Hill Road, Beck Road, New Shaker Road, Soucook Lane, North Village Road, Goshen Drive, NH Route 129, East Cooper Street, Hemlock Hill Drive, Chichester Road, and Autumn Drive will be able to access NH Route 106, but only for southbound travel. During the approximately six and one-half hour period NH Route 106 is limited to one-way traffic, safety vehicles will be stationed at four strategic locations to respond to emergency calls.

(4) NH Route 106 in Belmont will again be made one-way northbound between the Concord Street/NH Route 106 intersection and the NH 140/106 intersection. This section of roadway will be converted to a temporary two lane one-way northbound roadway between approximately 4:45 pm and 9:30 pm. Southbound Route 106 traffic will be rerouted onto North Main Street, to Concord Street, and then back onto Route 106. All other streets in Belmont will continue normal operations.

(5) At the intersection of NH Route 106 and Interstate 393, all ramps for northbound travel on Route 106 will be closed from approximately 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

(6) On Interstate 393, the Fort Eddy Road westbound on-ramp will be closed from approximately 4:15 pm to 9:30 pm.

(7) At the Interstate 393 and Interstate 93 interchange, the I-93 northbound off-ramp to I-393 west, Exit 15W; and the I-93 southbound ramp to I-393 east, Exit 15E; and I-393 east to I-93 southbound ramp will be closed from approximately 4:15 pm to 10:00 pm. Motorists attempting to use the I-393 west to I-93 southbound ramp will be diverted to Stickney Avenue from which they can access I-93 south at Exit 14.

(8) The southbound off-ramp at Exit 14 of I-93 will be closed from approximately 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm. Motorists will be directed to use Exit 15W to reach Exit 14 destinations.

(9) Special measures will be used on I-93 during the late afternoon and early evening hours of July 22nd. Three southbound lanes will be provided for five miles on I-93 from Exit 15 (I-393) in Concord, south to just beyond the junction of I-89 in Bow. This will be accomplished by "borrowing" a lane from the normal two-lane northbound barrel of I-93 and converting it to a temporary southbound lane from approximately 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm. As traffic approaches Exit 15 from the north, it will have the opportunity to cross the paved median and use the "borrowed" lane to, in effect, create an express lane to the Hooksett Toll Plaza. No exits will be accessible from the "borrowed" lane through Concord.

(10) Special measures on westbound I-393 to enhance southbound I-93 traffic will also be in use at Exit 15. The loop ramp for this movement will be signed to encourage two temporary lanes of traffic on the ramp for this race day. The two lanes will be merged on southbound I-93 prior to reaching Exit 14 and will be used only then the "borrow-a-lane" operation is in effect.

(11) At the Hooksett Toll Plaza, nine lanes for southbound traffic will be provided from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Toll attendants will operate all nine lanes to maximize traffic flow. Additional signs will be erected to advise motorists of plaza lane use, and maintenance personnel will be on duty at the toll plaza to ensure that lanes are kept open.

Telephone:
   (603) 271-3734
Fax:
   (603) 271-3914