Council approves temporary easement for Baboosic Lake Road bridge work and backs sidewalk grant application

The Merrimack Town Council on Jan. 9 authorized town staff to sign a temporary construction easement request from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) related to the National Merrimack‑Bedford project to replace the bridge carrying Baboosic Lake Road over the F.E. Everett Turnpike. The council also approved sending a non‑binding letter of support for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant application to fund a sidewalk on Baboosic Lake Road that would connect the library to the bridge area.

Town staff said the requested easement is a roughly 357‑square‑foot temporary construction area on town property near the police station and softball field. Public works staff explained the temporary easement is needed for grading and construction access so the contractor can meet road grades as the new bridge is built; the state will handle relocation costs for affected drainage or sewer laterals that are on town infrastructure. Staff said the contractor expects to advertise the work in April and that the temporary detour bridge will be placed on the southerly side of Baboosic Lake Road; the temporary traffic lanes will be narrower than typical (approximately 11 feet) to calm speeds through the detour.

The council approved the easement request and authorized the town manager to sign any necessary documentation.

Separately, the council approved a letter of support for a TAP grant to build the sidewalk segment from the existing limit at the library north to the turnpike/bridge vicinity. Public works staff said the town was ranked on the NHDOT 10‑year list but not in the top four for that region and is submitting the project for TAP because TAP is a distinct pot of federal funds; staff cautioned the program is competitive and each regional planning commission expects to fund only a small number of projects in the next round. The TAP application emphasizes connections to schools, the library, adult center, cemetery and other town center destinations. The council’s letter of support is non‑binding; staff said the new bridge project will provide a tie‑in point if the sidewalk is funded.

Why it matters: The easement clears a procedural step necessary for DOT’s bridge work; the sidewalk, if funded, would fill a gap in the town‑center pedestrian network and link community destinations. Staff noted construction staging and temporary traffic changes are expected to affect local parking and grading near the police property and advised the council the state consultant has been coordinating with town departments.

The council approved both items by motion at the meeting and asked staff to continue coordinating with DOT and with the town’s regional planning partners on the grant application.