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Council accepts PTS recommendation to reconfigure Congress Street as sewer work triggers streetscape redesign
Summary
Council approved minutes from the Parking, Traffic & Safety committee including a PTS plan that would reduce Congress Street traffic lanes where sewer replacement will take place, widen sidewalks in parts of downtown and add loading zones. The proposal drew public and council debate about traffic bottlenecks, enforcement and accessibility.
Portsmouth city council on Aug. 18 accepted action items and minutes from the Parking, Traffic & Safety (PTS) committee that include proposed reconfiguration of Congress Street as part of an upcoming sewer and streetscape project. Public works and planning staff have tied the change to the Fleet Street sewer‑separation work and recommended reconfiguring the roadway while utilities are replaced. Under the PTS proposal, one vehicle lane on Congress Street would be eliminated in segments affected by the utility work; travel lanes would be widened to 11 feet and delineated by fog lines, sidewalks on the Flatbread side of Congress would be widened a couple of feet, and two parking spaces near the new music hall would be set as loading zones in the morning and open to parking later in the day. The changes are intended to improve pedestrian access and make sidewalks ADA‑compliant while the road is reconstructed to replace underground water and sewer pipes. The item generated extensive council and public discussion. Councilors and residents raised concerns about possible traffic bottlenecks, delivery and loading behavior, and how enforcement would be handled to prevent double‑parked vehicles from blocking the single remaining travel lane. Supporters pointed to Market Square master‑plan work and previous traffic studies showing the configuration can function and noted that much of the change is driven by the need to replace underground utilities; Councilor Moreau urged parallel work on shifting some through traffic to State Street in future CIP phases. Director of Public Works and city staff said the change would coincide with required utility replacement, and that implementation would include temporary signage, an initial period of enforcement, and monitoring. Councilors asked for additional outreach and for staff to report back on temporary mitigation options and enforcement plans. The PTS action was accepted by council; staff will continue design and public engagement as the Fleet Street/Market Square construction program advances.
