Construction On The Spaulding Turnpike Hits Milestone

If you drive the Spaulding Turnpike, you're painfully aware of delays on a daily basis. Years into the major construction project, it looks like there is a small, but exciting light at the end of the tunnel.

A major piece of the project, the Spaulding Turnpike bridge, has been completely renovated. While the bridge will eventually carry the northbound 4 lanes of traffic, it's not going to come to fruition for a few (frustrating) months. That's right, as you're stuck in traffic, you'll crawl past an open bridge.

But why? According to seacoastonline.com, the bridge, and the expansion of the Turnpike are divided into separate phases or contracts. The rehabbed bridge will see use next summer. Northbound traffic at the Exit 4 on-ramp will use the bridge apart from the rest of the northbound traffic. A month later, all northbound traffic will use the new bridge, but will be limited to two of the four lanes as work on the Dover side of the bridge continues.

“It’s ready for use, however, it’s into our contract,” says Adam Chestnut, N.H. Department of Transportation supervising engineer for the project. “We have to absorb that project into our project. The use of that bridge is dependent on the phasing.”