The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is planning to repave two locations in the Town of Andover. The first location is on US Route 4, beginning approximately a third of a mile west of Depot Street and Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Club Road, and extending easterly 2.6 miles through the center of Andover to just east of the NH Route 11 intersection. It will involve a ¾” paver shim overlay with spot 2″ inlay treatments where necessary.

The second location is on Franklin Highway (NH Route 11), beginning at the US Route 4 intersection and extending easterly 5.1 miles to approximately 350′ west of Hoyt Road. It will involve a ¾” paver shim overlay.

Additional work will include replacement of all guardrail runs and currently substandard ADA sidewalk end units at crosswalk locations within the project areas.

Engineering studies have been initiated to refine the scope and limits of work necessary for this project. The Department’s Bureau of Environment is in the process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with the project.

To assist in this evaluation, Melilotus M. Dube, Environmental Manager of the NHDOT Bureau of Environment, has contacted the Historical Society, the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, and the Select Board seeking any concerns relative to the project’s potential impacts on environmental, social, economic, or cultural resources, such as wetlands, historic properties, and invasive plant species.

Preliminary engineering studies have begun and the Department will attempt to avoid and minimize impacts through design before determining if there will be any stream or wetland impacts that may require mitigation. As a proactive measure, the Department has requested a list of the Town’s preferred/priority mitigation efforts that the Department may evaluate and consider undertaking if it is determined that the proiect does in fact require mitigation.

In the absence of any Town priorities to evaluate, the Department will pursue permittee responsible mitigation through the Stream Passage Improvement Program (SPIP). If it’s determined that no viable options exist through the SPIP, the Department will pursue a payment into the Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund (ARM Fund), at which time those funds will become competitively available through the ARM fund grant process.

The tentative advertising date for this project is October 6, 2020.