Tagged: Transportation

The road back from the recession for some towns in New Hampshire could be slowed due to deep budget cuts affecting highway expansion and bridge maintenance.

The state Department of Transportation is grappling with budget cuts of $30 million in motor vehicle fees and a likely $40 million cut in federal highway funds each year.

“Our $140 million 10-year plan is now a $100 million plan,” says Transportation Commissioner Christopher Clement. “The document is a lot slimmer than it was five years ago.”

Governor John Lynch got a first hand look at two major projects on the Spaulding Turnpike in Southern New Hampshire.  

The Governor personally toured the expansion projects now underway on the pike on the Northern end in Rochester, and the Southern end between Newington and Portsmouth. The widening projects are intended to relieve traffic congestion on both ends of the Spaulding, especially at the Little Bay Bridge over Great Bay.

New Hampshire's newly-appointed Transportation Commissioner says without federal matching funds, the I-93 expansion and other major road projects are at risk.

Chris Clement has had a lot to deal with in the five weeks since first taking office.

First state legislators made major reductions in his budget and now Congress wants to cut their contribution by more than $50 million.

Clement says without the money from Washington, there will be no more expansion work of I-93.