Northbound Spaulding Turnpike bridge repair project begins next week

The work begins next Monday when construction crews will conduct pavement marking operations and install temporary concrete barrier (NHDOT photo)

DOVER - The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will implement a new traffic pattern on the Spaulding Turnpike (NH Route 16) in Dover between Exits 8 and 9 to complete bridge reconstruction at the Northbound Cocheco River Bridge.

The work begins next Monday when construction crews will conduct pavement marking operations and install temporary concrete barrier to move the existing two lanes of northbound Spaulding Turnpike traffic into a split traffic pattern.

In the new pattern, northbound traffic will be split just south of the Cocheco River Bridge, according to a release from NHDOT. The high-speed (left) lane will branch off to the left, cross over the median and travel on the southbound barrel over the bridge, returning to the northbound barrel just north of the bridge. The low-speed (right) lane will be moved into the northbound right shoulder to cross the bridge and will realign with the high-speed lane just north of the bridge. The existing two lanes of southbound traffic will be shifted into the westerly shoulder to accommodate this new traffic pattern.

Night work hours to implement this traffic pattern will be between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The work is weather dependent and is expected to be completed in one night.

Lane closures with uniformed police officers will be utilized to control traffic during this operation. Motorists should exercise caution when driving through the construction zone.

The temporary traffic pattern will include reduced lane widths for northbound traffic. The high-speed lane will have 12 feet width between the concrete barrier and bridge rail. The low-speed lane will have 13 feet width between the concrete barrier and bridge rail. Truck traffic is directed to utilize the right lane to pass thru the work area. Loads more than 10'-6" wide will not be able to pass thru the work area. This traffic pattern is anticipated to be in place until mid-November 2025 at which point traffic will be returned to its normal pattern.

The work is part of the Dover 41824 project. Evroks Corporation of Northfield is the prime contractor for the $14 million project, which is scheduled to be completed in June 2027.