Today, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, the population of our region is 196,000. During the past decade alone, an additional 24,000 residents moved into the area, a 14 percent increase. Since 1950, Greater Nashua has consistently outpaced the state's rate of growth in every decade. Here is a progress report on how local infrastructure is growing to meet increased demands.

Everett Turnpike/Route 3 Widening
Status: completed.

This $200 million project was completed in 1999 after five years of construction, and resulted in the widening of the Turnpike and Route 3 from Merrimack to the state line. The project also resulted in the implementation of Exit 2, which provided a second bridge in South Nashua, connecting to Lowell Road in Hudson. Currently, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is in the beginning stages of widening Route 3 south of Nashua to Route 128, a project that will take about four years to complete. The town of Hudson is also in the process of widening Lowell Road.

Commuter Rail
Status: in preliminary engineering.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation in cooperation with the city of Nashua are the proponents of an extension of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) commuter rail service, which currently terminates in Lowell. Under the proposal, a train station would be constructed. So far, the state and federal governments have committed $15 million to this project. Ultimately, the state would like to extend this service north to downtown Manchester.

Manchester Airport Access Road
Status: pending permits

Manchester Airport is the fastest growing in New England with an aggressive master development plan. Key to the success of the airport is the construction of the Manchester Airport access road. The project would provide direct access to the airport from the Everett Turnpike near the location of the Bedford toll. More importantly, the project will provide another bridge crossing over the Merrimack River.

Broad Street Parkway
Status: scheduled to break ground 2002

The parkway is a limited access roadway that begins at Exit 6, and terminates at W. Hollis and Kinsley Streets near Pine St. The project is intended to relieve traffic at the north end of Main Street by providing a second bridge crossing over the Nashua River in the downtown area. The parkway will be bicycle and pedestrian accessible, and will form the centerpiece of the city's extensive trail network.

Circumferential Highway
Status: environmental review

This proposed limited access roadway would link Route I 11 in Hudson with Routes 102, 3-A, 3 and the Everett Turnpike with a new Exit 9. The project was originally conceived to continue southward to Exit 2, however the southerly segment was dropped due to environmental constraints. The project would facilitate east-west traffic flow by providing a much-needed bridge crossing at the Nashua-Merrimack line.

Route 101A
Status: planning

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has committed $17 million in improvements for Route 101-A between the Everett Turnpike and Route 101 at the Amherst town line. Currently a comprehensive master plan is being developed with the goal of improving roadway capacity while enabling bicycle, pedestrian and transit access. Long range solutions to the growing conflicts between traffic from the west and local trips will be addressed.