Hooksett council endorses keeping two-intersection Route 3 improvements as DOT reviews costs

The Hooksett Town Council voted to record its support for the current two‑intersection design for improvements at Route 3A/Main Street and Hackett Hill Road, saying the town should press the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to preserve the project’s original scope.

The endorsement followed a presentation by town staff and McFarland‑Johnson consultant Jean McCarthy and Bruce Thomas, the town engineer, who said the NHDOT asked the town to justify the project’s updated cost and to consider smaller alternatives. The town’s engineering study shows an updated construction cost of about $10.2 million for the two intersections; the state currently has $2.7 million programmed in construction funding. If the project proceeds as designed, the town’s share would be 10 percent of the construction cost — roughly $1.2 million under current estimates.

Town staff and the planning‑board subcommittee told the council they believe both intersection improvements are needed together because doing only one would worsen congestion at the other. Engineers asked the council to be prepared to discuss smaller footprints, roundabout versus signal options, and whether the town could increase its contribution to preserve the preferred alternative.

After questions from council members about timing, cost escalation and how bonding would affect the town, the council made a motion — entered on the record — to support continuing the design and planning as presented and to convey that position to NHDOT. The council conducted a voice vote; the motion passed.

Why it matters: The intersections are on NHDOT highways that carry local and through traffic to the northbound gateway from the turnpike. Councilors and staff said community input and multiple public presentations had shown public support for the two‑roundabout option and that scaling back the project could undermine the plan’s safety and congestion goals.

Details and next steps: McCarthy said NHDOT’s estimate review committee asked the town to be prepared to discuss acceptable delay and the year of design performance, and to compare roundabout costs with signal options. McCarthy and Thomas said the state may be re‑prioritizing projects because of limited funds; the town will attend the state estimate review meeting on Aug. 22 and report back to the council at the next regular meeting.

The council’s endorsement is a formal expression of local support; it does not obligate the town to fund the full project now. Staff told the council the town would not bond for the work until the incremental tax revenue or other dedicated funding streams needed to repay any bond were secure.

Ending: Town staff and the consultant will meet with DOT and report results to the council after the DOT’s estimate review committee meets. The council’s voice vote to record support was entered into the minutes.