Road work on bypass will continue after Independence Day Weekend

Night work, started on the Route 3/11 bypass May 12, was anticipated to end before Laconia Motorcycle Week. Weather delayed progress, and the road construction is expected to continue through July.

“Our goal was to complete the paving of the bypass before Motorcycle Week, but the loss of seven overnight work shifts due to weather made that impossible,” said Jennifer Lane, chief communications officer for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

Lane said weather has been the primary factor affecting the schedule, especially because paving is done at night.

“Rain can have a greater impact on production, since there is no daytime sun to help dry the roadway before work begins again,” Lane said. “Despite those delays, significant progress has been made.”

According to Lane, construction has been going on for the past seven weeks, scheduled overnight for when traffic volumes are at their lowest. This was in an effort to minimize impacts on travelers, and create a safe environment for workers.

She said mainline paving was completed on June 15, and ramp paving was finished June 24.

Rumble strips were installed on June 25. Previously, Lane said centerline rumble strip installation and final pavement striping had not been scheduled, and were anticipated to be installed about a month after final paving took place.

The bypass has been the scene of many accidents, including several fatal crashes. Grady Shoemaker, 20, of Laconia, and Renee Privitera, 63, of Belmont, were killed in a head-on collision on Nov. 14, in Gilford. In July 2024, Tracey MacLean, 41, of Bristol, and Mary Kalista, 68, of Farmington, also died in a head-on crash on the bypass.

Eight people were hospitalized after a head-on collision that occurred just north of the Morrill Street Bridge on May 29, as well.

During the week of June 29, crews were also scheduled to complete plug joints on five bridge joints, but work on the bypass will continue after Independence Day.

“Following the July 4 holiday, remaining work will include shoulder gravel placement, and permanent pavement markings,” Lane said.

Lane said while the travel lanes of the bypass were finished before Motorcycle Week, some of the ramps were not. She said once a roadway has been milled, crews try to pave it as soon as conditions make it possible. This, she said, provides the “safest and smoothest” surface for drivers.

The overnight work was scheduled for off-peak hours to reduce traffic impacts, while maintaining a safe work zone.

“While we always strive to complete projects before peak travel periods whenever possible, paving is temperature-sensitive, and must be completed during the summer construction season,” Lane said. “Weather and field conditions can occasionally require schedule adjustments, but our priority is to complete the work safely while minimizing disruptions to the traveling public.”

According to information provided by NH DOT in May, Pike Industries began milling and paving operations of the Laconia-Gilford Bypass on the night of May 12. The project included paving the whole bypass, from the intersection with Route 3B in Belmont, to the intersection with Route 11 in Gilford, including entrances and on-ramps.

The project was initially set for a May 26 start, but the state moved it back to start with shimming and leveling on May 12. Construction has been going from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights.

This paving project is part of a larger contract including milling, paving and guardrail improvements on Route 3 in Tilton, spanning from the Franklin town line to Tilton Park & Ride, located east of Interstate 93. Work will also be taking place at night for that section.

Lane said the project has been “progressing well,” and work on the bypass is nearly complete. The crews will shift their focus to the Route 3 portion next week, and major milling and paving is expected to start in August.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we continue making these improvements to the roadway,” Lane said.

The overall contract is on schedule to be completed in October.