Islington Street Corridor Reconstruction Project

Seasonal construction resumed on Monday, April 7, 2025.

Update for Week of April 14, 2025

Phase 2a Construction Area – Dover Street to Cornwall

• Plant trees

Phase 2b Construction Area – Cornwall to Maplewood

• Section 1- Cornwall Street to Langdon Street
  • Plant trees
• Section 2 – Langdon Street to Maplewood Ave
  • Tree pit, lighting and curb installation
  • Sidewalk prep construction on south side of road
  • Curb installation

There are some areas where the contractor still needs to install infrastructure underground. Those underground work areas include: 

• The Congress/Middle/Islington intersection – this intersection is getting traffic signal upgrades as well as work on three sidewalk corners to enhance pedestrian accommodations.
• The area in front of 72, 86, 96 Islington – this area needs the drainage infrastructure installed along what will be the new curbline.
• The area behind 72, 86, 96 Islington and 547 State will be receiving drainage infrastructure to alleviate long standing drainage issues. This work will extend onto State Street from the driveway at #547 to separate the State St stormwater from the sanitary sewer collection system.
• Various locations will be excavated for future tree-planting. 

The balance of this year’s work will involve finishing the tree-planting, installing sidewalks, lighting, road paving and striping. It is estimated that all work should be completed before summer’s end. 

Traffic Patterns
One-lane alternating traffic patterns and intermittent detours will be in place on Islington Street during work hours to accommodate contractor operations. Flaggers and project personnel will be on site to facilitate traffic flow.

Water Service Interruptions
Brief water disruptions may occur to connect residents to the temporary water main. Owners/Residents will be notified 48 hours in advance of any scheduled water main shutdowns.

Traffic Patterns
One-lane alternating traffic patterns and intermittent detours will be in place on Islington Street during work hours to accommodate contractor operations. Flaggers and project personnel will be on site to facilitate traffic flow.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dave Desfosses, construction Project Manager at (603) 766-1411 or email djdesfosses@portsmouthnh.gov

A Public Pre-Construction Meeting was held on March 19, 2024. Go to the meeting presentation.

Public Meeting Presentation provided on March 8, 2023.

Work on the Corridor Project includes replacement of underground utilities (water sewer and storm drain), roadway reconstruction, curbing and sidewalk installations, and landscaping improvements (ornamental lighting, street trees, benches, etc.). The work will continue to proceed in discrete sections in order to limit the impact to residents and businesses; and will be a large step in the revitalization of the West End neighborhood. The goal of this project is to create a "complete street" and will include improvements to the streetscape, traffic signals, utilities, pedestrian facilities, transit and vehicular roadway.

The design incorporates the recommendations of several planning studies such as the 2009 Islington Street Improvement Action Plan, 2014 Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan and the "character-based" zoning public charrette. Utility design includes the design of drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage improvements, as well as utility coordination and design for natural gas, communications and electrical relocations of infrastructure. The design effort also includes improvements to parking and vehicular/pedestrian uses to determine proper lane widths, sidewalk widths, intersection designs and roadbed and pavement types and thicknesses.

Project Status: The City awarded a contract to Severino Construction of Candia, NH but due to cost increases across all sectors, the project was divided in two parts: Phase 2A in FY24 and Phase 2B in FY25.

Anticipated Completion:  Phase 2B completed Summer 2025

Funding Source/Status:  Phase 2B costs exceeding the current project budget are included in the FY24 CIP 

Designer/Contractor:    Underwood Engineers, Inc.