Dana Dexter | Support HB2026

I am a resident of Manchester, New Hampshire, and I am offering this testimony in my personal capacity. While I serve as a Manchester alderman and am employed as a police officer in New Hampshire, my comments today reflect my own observations and experiences as a Manchester resident and commuter and do not represent the official positions of the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the City of Manchester, or my employing police department. Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest city and a key regional transportation hub, and the I-293 corridor plays a critical role in daily commuting, freight movement, emergency response, and access to employment and services throughout the state. Ongoing congestion, outdated interchange design, and limited operational capacity along I-293 create challenges for drivers and contribute to safety concerns throughout the corridor. Including projects 16099A, 16099B, 41594, and 43850 in the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s highway program is necessary to address long-standing safety issues and improve traffic operations in this heavily traveled area. Projects 16099A and 16099B, which focus on reconstructing I-293 Exits 6 and 7, would modernize interchanges that no longer function effectively for today’s traffic volumes. These areas experience frequent congestion, difficult and sometimes unsafe merging, and recurring crashes. In my role as a police officer, I have responded to crashes and traffic incidents in other areas with similar congestion and interchange design issues, and I have personally experienced the delays and safety challenges these conditions create while traveling through the I-293 corridor. Reconstructing these interchanges would improve traffic flow, reduce bottlenecks, and create safer, more predictable conditions for motorists and first responders alike. In addition, the City of Manchester is currently reconstructing the adjacent bridges over the Merrimack River and Amoskeag Falls. Completion of these local bridge projects will complement the State’s planned improvements at Exits 6 and 7, helping to improve overall traffic flow, reduce congestion, and maximize the positive safety and mobility impacts in this area. Project 41594, which proposes operational improvements at I-293 Exit 1, represents a practical and cost-effective opportunity to improve circulation and safety at one of Manchester’s busiest gateways. Targeted operational changes at this location can reduce congestion, improve traffic movements, and support safer day-to-day travel. Project 43850 addresses safety concerns at the Eddy Road and Exit 6 southbound on-ramp intersection, where existing conditions create conflict points and elevated crash risk. Focused safety improvements at this location would reduce collisions, improve access to the highway system, and enhance overall roadway safety. Taken together, these projects represent a coordinated and practical investment in safety, mobility, and congestion reduction. Their inclusion in the DOT highway program helps ensure that one of New Hampshire’s most challenging urban corridors functions more safely and reliably for residents, commuters, and emergency responders well into the future.