Greenland officials push for public turnout as bridge funding shortfall persists

At the March 10, 2025 meeting of the Greenland Board of Selectmen, members discussed steps to press the Regional Planning Commission’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (RPC MPO) and other grant channels to advance a long‑planned Route 33 bridge replacement, saying the project faces a significant funding gap and will require sustained local advocacy.

The issue matters because officials said the project needs roughly $17 million to proceed, far more than the $8 million the RPC can reasonably allocate for the region over its two‑year cycle. Selectmen and residents were urged to attend an upcoming RPC MPO meeting to show support and to participate in additional regional outreach and corridor hearings planned later this year.

Board members and meeting participants described three near‑term items they expect will strengthen Greenland’s case: the engineering design for the bridge (expected this year), a corridor study for Route 33 that the state has selected Greenland to host this year, and a clearer budget estimate that will follow the designs. Officials also said the town declined to submit an application this funding cycle to U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office because too many questions remained about how any awarded funds would be used and monitored.

Meeting participants estimated the shortfall at roughly $17 million; by contrast one nearby project named in discussion (the “Plastow” project) was described as roughly $4 million and within available allocations. The board noted the RPC’s regional cap for allocations is about $8 million for the two‑year period, meaning Greenland’s bridge will not be funded by the RPC alone unless additional sources are found.

Officials said recent technical developments improve the town’s prospects: the bridge has been placed on the state “red list” of deficient bridges, and the most recent publicly referenced inspection rating was 4 out of 10 (from the fall 2023 inspection). Those facts, meeting participants said, strengthen Greenland’s priority with state decision‑makers and funders. An engineering study and the Route 33 corridor study are expected to produce the right‑of‑way, design and cost information needed to pursue federal or congressional directed spending in coming years.

Board members urged continuing local advocacy: planned tactics include a visible presence at the RPC MPO meeting, organized attendance at state corridor hearings, and public outreach to build broader county and congressional support. They also discussed beginning a modest local reserve or annual savings to show local contribution toward sidewalks, pedestrian connections and other components DOT typically does not fund.

Next steps described at the meeting: (1) attend the upcoming RPC MPO meeting to register public support; (2) participate in the Route 33 corridor study events when dates are announced; and (3) use the engineering and corridor study results to develop a firm cost estimate and funding strategy. Officials suggested that, even with those steps, gaining final funding and contract awards could take two years or more.

Ending: Selectmen said they will publicize meeting dates and request volunteers to attend RPC and corridor hearings; they did not set a new town vote or appropriation at the March 10 meeting.