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Parents ask Hooksett council to seek state help for crosswalk at Londonderry Turnpike and Whitehall Road after child struck
Summary
Parents of a child struck on July 3 urged the council to request a state‑installed lighted crosswalk at the Londonderry Turnpike/Whitehall Road signal; town staff said they will forward the request to the state, noting curb, sidewalk and higher‑cost signalized crossing options.
A Hooksett couple told the Town Council their daughter was hit by a car on July 3 while trying to cross near their home and requested the council ask the state to install a marked and lighted crosswalk at the signalized intersection of Londonderry Turnpike (Bypass 28) and Whitehall Road.
Bethany and Keith Judge said the area near the Dollar Tree/Starbucks plaza and other retail draws is frequented by middle‑ and high‑school students walking and biking between neighborhoods and businesses. They described a lack of safe crossings and sidewalks in places and urged the council to pursue a crosswalk at the turnpike traffic signal.
Town staff and councilors explained that the road is a state highway and that NHDOT generally prefers lighted and signalized pedestrian crossings rather than painted stripes alone. Andre Garen, the town administrator, said the town would forward the Judges’ request to state officials and seek guidance on the state process for adding a crossing. Councilors said the state typically needs information on pedestrian origins and destinations and that engineering review and higher costs for a lighted crossing could be involved.
Why it matters: Councilors framed the request as a public‑safety issue for residents and students who walk to retail and transit nodes near the intersection. The council said it would convey the request to NHDOT and work with residents, noting that sidewalk and crosswalk infrastructure is a multi‑year priority in town planning.
Next steps: Staff will forward the request to NHDOT and follow up with the Judges on the process; councilors also suggested outreach and possible site visits to document pedestrian flow and to maximize the state’s consideration of the request.
Ending: The council expressed sympathy for the family, thanked police and fire responders for their quick response to the July 3 accident, and said staff would begin the routing to state officials to assess crossing options.
