The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) announces work has begun in Hooksett on what will be the second Open Road Tolling (ORT) facility in the northeast.

The project will convert the Hooksett Toll Plaza on Interstate 93 (Everett Turnpike) to an ORT facility by adding two northbound and two southbound highway speed electronic tolling lanes. The conversion will be very similar to what occurred at the Hampton Toll Plaza on I-95 (Blue Star Turnpike) and will involve the removal of six conventional toll lanes in the center of the plaza to create the four ORT lanes. In addition, two toll lanes will be added for northbound and southbound traffic on each side of the plaza.

The Hooksett ORT project is expected to improve traffic flow and travel time through the plaza, and improve safety and air quality. The Hooksett Toll Facility processes over 25 million vehicles a year with peak traffic volumes routinely over 80,000 vehicles per day on the summer weekends causing delays.

The project improvements include the toll plaza modifications to accommodate ORT infrastructure and collection equipment, rehabilitation of the existing toll plaza, highway widening and interchange improvements, and the rehabilitation of three bridges over Cross Road, Hackett Hill Road and ramps.

R.S. Audley Construction, Inc. of Bow, New Hampshire is the general contractor for the $22.9 million project. The new ORT lanes are scheduled to be open in July of 2013.