Key Belmont intersection to get facelift

One of the Lakes Region’s busiest intersections could be getting some major renovations next summer.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced tentative plans to add turning lanes and a new stoplight to the Route 106 and Route 140 crossroads.

A public hearing for area residents and community leaders interested in the proposed changes will be held Thursday night at the Corner Meeting House at 7 p.m.

The DOT’s plan calls for a left-hand turning lane on Route 106 heading north (from Concord), a left-hand turning lane on Route 140 heading west (towards Gilmanton), and both left and right-hand turning lanes on Route 106 going south (towards Concord). Each lane will be about 300 feet.

In addition, work will be done on Route 140 heading west (towards Tilton) into the intersection. “We’ve had a lot of problems with trucks turning there,” said DOT Project Manager Alex Vogt. “They need more room. We don’t’ want them going out into the opposing lanes. So we want to improve the radius there.”

The left-hand turning lane on 106 heading south will also be available for drivers heading north to use as a turning lane into the business parking areas on the west side of the state highway, including M & J’s Country Griddle. “We don’t want it to end” serving as the left-hand turning lane for southbound drivers too close to the intersection, Vogt said. “It will be after you get far enough past the intersection.”

Barring any major issues arising at Thursday’s public hearing, the DOT could begin working on the project next summer, Vogt said. “Once it starts, the project should be able to get done in one construction season, which is about six months. We’re not anticipating any significant delays,” he added. “We’d like to get it done next year but there are some right of ways we have to acquire and that can take a bit of time depending on how extensive the impacts are. We have to get appraisals, and we have to go through our whole appraisal and maybe the eminent domain process.”

The state highway department has been in touch with the local utility companies and with town leaders who would like to extend municipal water service in the area, Vogt said.

“It may not get done for 2006 but we can have the plans ready and certainly by 2007 we should have it in the works,” he said.