NH State Representative Steven Smith

Below, find the update from NHDOT. Above, find my reply.

I understand that some things are beyond our control. Nonetheless, please convey to everyone involved, every chance you get, that there is significant cost and danger racking up here. My son, a new driver, trying to navigate the muddy dirt going to school was involved in an accident, destroyed his vehicle, and sustained multiple injuries. He is not alone. The “alternate” route roads were never suited to be through routes or to carry commercial traffic. Consequently, they are deteriorating rapidly and some are actually impassable now that mud season has arrived.

Constituents are rightfully in an uproar about the damage to their local roads, vehicles, and persons. We are literally in the worst month to be using these back roads. Please explore any method of making at least one lane of Rte 12 open. I’m pretty sure they won’t care if it delays completion of the final project. One gravel lane will save a lot of doctor bills and vehicle repairs/replacements. There is also no guarantee that the back roads will last through this, leaving some with no way to get to work or school. 

This is an actual crisis now, not an inconvenience. 

Steven D. Smith Deputy Speaker, NH House of Representatives

Dear Elected Officials for Charlestown, Walpole and Claremont: 

My apologies for the delayed update.  A family matter arose and in my absence, a situation developed with the Charlestown Route 12 repairs.

We are disappointed to send this update, but need to advise you that unforeseen circumstances have developed which impact the project.  

Work to install the soil nail wall began the week of February 14, 2022.  As work was advancing, the track monitoring system registered excessive movement. This movement caused the Railroad to reduce speeds to 10 mph and to rescind the Railroad’s approval of the work to construct the soil nail wall.   High groundwater, fluctuating temperatures, and fractured underlying ledge are all contributing factors. 

Clearly, the Railroad would like to resume normal speeds and the Department would like to reopen the road as soon as safety allows.  The engineers are analyzing the situation and reevaluating design options, working towards a solution with the public’s and railroad’s safety and travel needs at the forefront.

I will keep you updated more frequently, as DOT continues to meet with the Railroad and works to develop a solution.  DOT remains committed to the end goal of safely reopening Charlestown Route 12.

My Best,

Kathy

Kathleen Mulcahey-Hampson

Legislative Liaison

The NH Route 12 repair work began on January 3, 2022.  The contractor, Casella, successfully acquired the Right-of-Entry from the New England Central Railroad (NECR).  Prior to starting any excavation work within the railroad right-of-way, Casella was required to monitor the track for seven (7) days. The baseline monitoring has been completed. This initial monitoring created a baseline for typical track movement while trains are operating.  The baseline can then be compared to any vibrations during soil nail wall drilling, excavating the roadway, and rebuilding the roadway and slope.

Once the initial monitoring period was complete, Casella was able to begin roadway work by removing existing guardrail, clearing and removal of trees necessary in the slope failure, and building temporary roads for railroad right-of-way access. The temporary roads are the first phase of the soil nail wall construction.  

In addition to the track monitoring, Casella needs to install additional equipment to monitor the stability of the railroad embankment. This work will entail some intermittent disruption of power in the immediate area.  The monitoring devices and power disruptions should be completed this week.

The project is moving forward.  Casella is close to completing the necessary submittals to finish ordering materials.  The project is on-schedule through January 2022 due to Casella’s attentiveness, the railroad’s responsiveness to requests, and the Department’s Bureau of Construction staff anticipating questions and concerns.  

I hope this information provides a good picture of the cooperative efforts and the progress that has been made. 

My Best,

Kathy

Kathleen Mulcahey-Hampson

Legislative Liaison

Senior Hearings Examiner, NHDOT

What to do, and not to do, if your home COVID-19 test comes back positive

PORTLAND, Maine —

As communities head back to work and school following the winter holidays, more people are relying on at-home COVID-19 test kits.

Doctors are sharing what they say your next steps should be if your home test comes back positive.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills with MaineHealth said the home test results are reliable and patients should not look to confirm their results with a PCR test at a clinic or hospital.

“If you take a home antigen test and it comes back positive, you can generally take that to the bank,” she said.

Health officials are urging people to avoid hospitals and testing sites for mild or asymptomatic cases to free up resources like PCR tests.

“There’s such a huge demand for (PCR test) right now for people who are sick and who don’t have a home test,” Mills said. “That’s why we’re really trying to preserve the testing systems.”

Mills said if someone is not experiencing symptoms and has not been in close contact with someone they know has the virus and test positive with an at-home kit, they should consider themselves to be positive, isolate and follow up with another at-home test in 24 hours.

https://www.wmur.com/article/what-to-do-and-not-to-do-if-your-home-covid-19-test-comes-back-positive/38683831

Get a free home test kit

https://sayyescovidhometest.org/