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Granite Street Improvements
 
 Granite Street Improvements
CLIENT
    City of Manchester
    Department of Highways
    227 Maple Street
    Manchester, NH 03103
    (603) 624-6444
LOCATION
    Granite Street
    Manchester, New Hampshire
COST
    Estimated Construction Cost $24 Million
CLIENT'S OBJECTIVES
    The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is currently underway with the reconstruction of I-293's Exit 5 (Granite Street) as a full access interchange (by adding a northbound on-ramp and a southbound off-ramp). This work is being performed to replace the "Red Listed" bridge over Granite Street and to improve access and mobility along the I-293 corridor. A "Red Listed" bridge is defined as a bridge that requires interim inspections due to known deficiencies, poor condition, weight restrictions or type of structure.

    Granite Street Improvements The City wishes to take advantage of the opportunity for developing an inviting entrance to the Granite Street area from both east and west approaches and to accomodate traffic flow during events at the new Civic Center and Fisher Cats Stadium. Most importantly, the City and NHDOT wanted the modified interchange to operate efficiently, so planning efforts were directed at widening both Granite Street and Granite Street Bridge over the Merrimack River as a composite City/NHDOT project.

    The goals of these improvements to the Downtown include improved traffic flow, access and safety, and a revitalized "Gateway" to the City of Manchester.  
THE FACTS
    The City of Manchester retained a CLD lead team to provide total design and construction oversight services for the project. The team also included LDR International, Inc.(a HNTB Co.) for landscape and streetscape planning, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. for environmental and geotechnical, and Gordon Bua & Read, Inc. for railroad crossing design. CLD was responsible to secure funding for the project through a variety of sources.

    The project extends from South Main Street on the west side, and easterly to Elm Street on the east side. The design process was complicated by the proximity of the existing roadway to two area parks that required a programmatic 6(f) evaluation as part of the Environmental Assessment prepared for the project.
THE RESULTS
    The project will include:

  • Widening the existing four-lane Granite Street Bridge to provide seven traffic lanes.
  • Widening of the remaining Granite Street length to between five and eight travel lanes.
  • Reconstruct three at-grade rail crossings.
  • Design of ornamental and architectural features, landscaping and lighting, and enhanced pedestrian facilities.
  • Traffic signal upgrades at five major intersections.
  • A comprehensive traffic coordination system to provide a progression of traffic flow through the improved corridor.
  • Public Hearing process.


    • Project Phases I and II have been awarded to Middlesex Corp. and E.D. Swett, Inc. and are currently in construction. Phase II is to be advertised in the spring of 2006, and all contracts are to be completed by the end of 2008.

STATUS UPDATE

    Construction on the 14025-F (Bridge) contract is continuing by E.D. Swett, Inc. with efforts focusing on continuing construction of piers 2 and 3 in the river. Work on Abutment A (west) is now essentially complete and bearings are in place awaiting steel. As work is completed on the remaining piers, more steel will be set into place.

    Work on the Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls along the Jillians site is now essentially complete with the exception of the new staircase that will go down to the Jillians area from Granite Street. Current efforts on the east side of the river include forming for the new ornamental concrete rail and grade beam.

    Temporary pavement has been placed on the east end of the river which will serve traffic by next May when the new portion of the River Bridge is opened. For now, the newly paved area is being used to store precast concrete deck panels that will ultimately be placed on the new bridge.

    Construction on the 10622-C/14025-C (west-end) contract continues with major efforts to wrap up major portions of the Granite Street widening from the river to So. Main Street. This includes setting of new curbing, concrete sidewalks and brickwork, new traffic signals that are slowly coming on-line, and ornamental lights which are expected to be operational before winter.

    Southbound traffic on I-293 has been shifted onto the new Interstate Bridge, and after Thanksgiving it is expected that all northbound and southbound traffic will be on the new bridge to allow for the winter demolition of the existing I-293 bridge.

    Work on reconstructing the West-high parking lots and Second Street (north) was completed in time for the first day of school, and are now being used by students.

    Reconstruction of the Exxon Station at the corner of So. Main Street is now essentially complete, and they are open for business as a new Gulf Station.


For more information, please visit the City of Manchester's Granite Street Development Status at: http://www.manchesternh.gov/devprojects/granitestreet.html  
HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Survey and Right-of-Way
  • Highway and Bridge Design
  • Traffic Signal Design
  • Storm Drain System Design
  • Plan Preparation
  • Utility Coordination
  • Environmental Studies
  • Bidding/Construction Services
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