NH State Representative Steven Smith

Someone asked why the project is not a state priority and whether I have done anything about it. There are two false assumptions there.

• One – Literally ripping a stretch of state highway right down to the road base is not an overnight project, and is a priority job
• Two – Since I am not a keyboard warrior, I don’t post rants every day. I have been busy working on the problems. Social media activity does not equal actually doing anything.

I have been in contact with NHDOT at least weekly throughout. The challenge has been that to excavate that close to the railroad tracks required both the agreement of the railroad, and the approval of USDOT. The actual underlying roadbed is what became stabilized, and the road continued to shift position over a week after the initial damage. A quick fix was simply not possible.

I sent video of the route the school bus will have to take, and sent information about the accidents and near misses that I was aware of. None of this impacted the counter position that we can not endanger the safety of the railroad. 

I have a son in the high school and who is also a brand new driver. He has gone off the road once on his way to school. I am as impacted as anyone personally, and perhaps more so than those without children traveling this route. There has not been a single week where I have not applied as much pressure as I could. This does not counteract engineering concerns though.

Fixing this is a priority for the state. We got agreement on funding it almost immediately. Calling it a priority does not change the engineering and approval process.

https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

“An Act making the 11th day of November in each year a legal
holiday”‘, approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. C , sec. 87a),
is hereby amended by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting
in lieu thereof the word “Veterans”.
Approved June 1, 1954.^

Charlestown Rt 12 Repair Update … November 5, 2021

Dear Elected Officials for Charlestown, Walpole and Claremont:

The big news is that the project will advertise today, Friday, November 5, 2021 and the bids will be opened on November 18, 2021.  The “Invitation for Bids” document is attached for your reference. 

The Department had planned to provide a one week bid period.  However, following the informational meeting with potential pre-qualified contractors, modifications were made to the project and the project start was delayed, resulting in different weather conditions from the outset.  Also, holidays are approaching,  Therefore, it is only fair to provide the contractors with two weeks to encompass the change in plans and weather before submitting bids (thus the advertising on 11/5 and the bid opening on 11/18).  

The Department plans to request pre-authorization from Governor & Council for a project dollar amount at the G&C meeting on November 22, 2021.  Then the Department will go back to G&C for approval of the contract award to the selected contractor.  

My Best,

Kathy

Kathleen Mulcahey-Hampson

Legislative Liaison