Interstate 93

Stretching 131.78 miles through the Granite State, Interstate 93 joins the Boston metropolitan area with the N.H. Lakes Region, the White Mountains and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The freeway doubles as the tolled F.E. Everett Turnpike between I-293 north of Manchester and the south end of I-89 outside Concord. The 10 mile long Franconia Notch Parkway in northern New Hampshire required a statutory exception to Interstate standards due to environmental concerns, with I-93 varying with sections of two, three and four lane parkway.¹

The F.E. Everett Turnpike portion tied into a section of I-93 under construction in Concord started in December 1956.² The toll road opened on August 29, 1957.³ Further sections of Interstate 93 followed from Salem to Manchester and from Bow to Tilton by 1963.² 12.5 miles of the freeway from U.S. 3 in Tilton to NH 104 at New Hampton opened to traffic on June 29, 1964. This stretch included the first Interstate safety rest area in the state.¹ Work on the freeway north from New Hampton to NH 25 and 3A at Plymouth was completed in 1965. Delays ensued on the northernmost stretch of freeway, with work starting on I-93 from Littleton to the Vermont state line in 1984.⁴

Interstate 93 was completed in New Hampshire on June 2, 1988 when Franconia Notch Parkway was dedicated.¹ The parkway was controversial, garnering opposition from factions opposed to construction of two separate roads through Franconia Notch State Park. The parkway was eventually approved by a federal judge after the signing of an agreement in 1977 by the Governor, DOT representatives, the Department of Resources and Economic Development, the Division of Parks, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the Appalachian Mountain Club.⁵ 45 accidents occurred between the Parkway Exit 1 and the beginning of the divided highway at Parkway Exit 3 between 1988 and 1992⁵. This led to an agreement signed on March 5, 1993 for the addition of median guardrails along Franconia Notch Parkway. They were added by fall 1993 at a cost of $1.5 million.⁶

Interstate 93 New Hampshire Guides

scenes

Several trailblazers installed by the city of Manchester include the state name for Interstate 93. This assembly stands at the intersection of Bridge and Union Streets. Bridge Street east becomes Wellington Road ahead of Exit 8. 07/30/07

A small sign directs motorists onto Bridge Street east from Union Street to Interstate 93 in Manchester. 07/30/07

Wellington Road angles southwest from Bald Hill to expand into a four lane arterial at the folded diamond interchange with Interstate 93. 07/30/07

A loop ramp departs Wellington Road west for Interstate 93 south to Salem and Boston. Bridge Street ties into the ramp end at the following traffic light to overtake Wellington Road west into Manchester. 07/30/07

Portsmouth Road comprises a short connect from NH 132 (East Side Drive) at East Concord to Interstate 93/U.S. 4 (Exit 16). Pictured here is the loop ramp for southbound from the local road west. 06/27/05

Photo Credits:

06/27/05 by AARoads and Carter Buchanan. 07/30/07 by AARoads.

Connect with:
Interstate 89
Interstate 293
Interstate 393
U.S. 3
Route 101

Page Updated 03-03-2015.