Kingston Road Project
The Town of Exeter, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), is seeking to enhance pedestrian/bike safety on Kingston Road. The project is being locally administered under the NHDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). This project involves:
• Widening the shoulders along both sides of Kingston Road between the bridge over the Little River and Pickpocket Road (approximately 1 mile)
• Extending the sidewalk westerly from the bridge over the Little River to Tamarind Lane on the south side of the road (approximately 3,000 ft).
• Installing an enhanced pedestrian crossing at the Kingston Road/Riverwoods Drive/White Oak Drive intersection
Shoulder widening will involve removal of existing roadway features and installation of gravels, pavement, and modification/regrading of side slopes, as well as modifying/replacing existing drainage pipes and structures, reconstructing driveways, clearing trees and vegetation (where they conflict with proposed work or restrict sight distances), erecting signage, and modifying utilities, as may be required. The sidewalk construction will involve the construction of a 5 ft bituminous sidewalk that will be separated from the road by a 5 ft wide bioretention swale. The swale will treat stormwater runoff to the maximum extent practicable within the existing right-of-way.
Status Updates
7/26/24 - The roadway shoulders and sidewalks are completely paved. Next week pavement striping will occur after a NHDOT inspection and approval. The loamed areas will be hydroseeded. There will be ongoing periodic work around the rapid flashing pedestrian beacon to install additional overhead lighting.
7/19/24 - Curb installation is complete. The rapid flash beacon was installed at Riverwoods Dr and White Oak Dr. Guardrail should be reinstalled before this week is over. Next week's work will consist of: placing concrete for the walkway tipdowns; grinding shoulder seams in preparation of paving; finish paving for the sidewalk and remaining roadway shoulders.
7/12/24 - Base course paving for widened shoulders is now complete. Next week curbing will be installed at Little River Bridge. Sidewalk ramps and tip downs will be constructed in various locations. Loaming and seeding will continue behind the sidewalks and within the retention swales.
7/10/24 - The contractor will be base course paving the northside of the shoulder down to Little River bridge on Thursday and Friday.
6/28/24 - The contractor base paved portions of the shoulder widening and sidewalk. Roadway joints were ground in preparation of the finish course paving for the widened shoulders. Work will continue next week with graveling of additional shoulders and applying the top course of asphalt to shoulders with the prepared joints. Work will stop for Thursday and Friday for the July 4th holiday.
6/21/2024: The crews will continue installing the base material for the new sidewalk. It is anticipated that later in the week, paving of the shoulders and base paving of the sidewalk will occur.
6/14/2024: Work will continue gravelling shoulders and sidewalk areas on the south side of Kingston Road.
6/4/2024: The contractor placed the base course asphalt on the widened shoulders in the western portion of the project. Next week, crews will continue to gravel in the shoulders and sidewalk areas on the south side of the road from Tamarind Ln heading toward Little River.
5/31/2024: The contractor plans to install the base course paving on the widened and graveled shoulders on Monday, June 3rd. Work will continue on widening and graveling additional shoulders heading toward town.
5/10/2024: In the week ahead the contractor will be widening the shoulders at the Pickpocket Road side. The erosion control installation is complete.
4/15/2024: Construction of the Kingston Road project will be starting Monday, April 15th. The project, which is partially funded by the NHDOT Transportation Alternatives Program, involves widening the roadway and adding a sidewalk to a portion of Kingston Road. The Town has contracted with DBU Construction, Inc. to construct the project. The following activities will be occurring on Kingston Road: roadway widening, sidewalk installation, installation of a stormwater treatment practice, and installation of an enhanced pedestrian crossing at Riverwoods Drive/Oak Drive. Construction is expected to last approximately four months. Typical working hours are 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Residents in the area will experience dust, noise, vibrations, road restrictions and different traffic flows. Vibrations from trucks, heavy equipment, and compaction equipment are usual. Traffic may be restricted to one-way during some of the time. The Town has hired the engineering firm Wright-Pierce to assist with construction observation and administration. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
10/2/2023: The request for bids has been posted (site below). A non-mandatory Pre-bid meeting was held on 9/28. Bid proposals are due before the end of the day on October 16th 2023.
12/16/2020: The project is progressing with easement acquisition. It is anticipated bidding and construction will be in 2021.