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Parents ask Hooksett council to press state for lighted crosswalk near Londonderry Turnpike and Whitehall Road after child struck
Summary
Two Hooksett residents asked the council to pursue a marked, lighted crossing at the Londonderry Turnpike/Whitehall Road intersection after their daughter was struck on July 3. Town staff said the request will be forwarded to NHDOT, which generally prefers lighted crossings for state highways; the council and staff encouraged residents to provide
During the public-input portion of the meeting, Bethany and Keith Judge described an incident on July 3 in which their daughter was struck while trying to cross the road near their house on Farmer Road. They asked the council to pursue a marked, preferably lighted, crosswalk at the intersection of Londonderry Turnpike and Whitehall Road near a retail plaza that draws middle and high school students.
Town Administrator Andre Garen expressed sympathy and said staff would forward the request to the appropriate state authorities. Councilors explained the differences between painted-only crosswalks and the lighted, signalized pedestrian crossings NHDOT typically prefers on state highways; staff warned that the lighted options can be significantly more expensive than paint-only markings. The Judge family thanked police and fire personnel for their response at the scene.
Why it matters: Residents described increasing pedestrian activity near retail centers and schools and urged more protective infrastructure. On state-owned roads the town must work with NHDOT; staff will forward details and request the DOT's guidance on location, design, and the town's role in funding or cost-sharing.
