Improving Claremont’s Infrastructure

Dale Girard
Mayoral Notes
The City of Claremont is making progress on the commitment to improving infrastructure. Several projects have recently been put out to bid which will assist in community safety and efficiency. Over the next six months, these projects will change the look and traffic flow entering the city. We have been fortunate to receive grants and continue working with local, state, and federal government.

The first project is a major upgrade to our traffic signals. We secured a grant in 2018 from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. This will allow us to replace 10 traffic signals between the intersection of Broad and Water Streets to Home Depot on Washington Street. This much needed upgrade will not only address traffic flow but also address the outdated equipment which has needed extra repairs from our Fire Department over the past several years. The grant covers 80% of the project. This project is scheduled to be completed within the next six months.

A second project includes the demolition of three structures that had been condemned – located at 111 and 119 Main Street and 150 Chestnut Street. This demolition project, which includes asbestos abatement, debris removal and site restoration. This will be funded by a grant from Invest NH, covering approximately 75% of the total cost. The removal of these dilapidated structures is another step in revitalizing the main entrances to the city. This project should allow for additional parking or green space in these areas. The asbestos mitigation was recently completed. The buildings should be removed over the next few weeks.

Lastly, a significant project is the reconfiguration of the Main and North Street Intersection. This has been in the planning and engineering stages since the early 2000’s. This intersection overhaul will include moving the intersection, water line, drainage improvement, and culvert replacement. Thanks to the work of both local and federal representatives, an earmark was secured from the office of Congressman Charlie Bass in 2004 to aid in this project. Although we initially bonded the city portion in 2011, a series of delays took place. The project has now been put out to bid, and construction is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2024. You may see equipment and material begin to be placed over the next few months.

These projects show the city’s commitment to moving the city into a modern, safe, and environmentally friendly position. By applying for and receiving these grants and pooling our funds with State and Federal agencies, we are continuing to improve infrastructure without placing the entire cost on the local taxpayers.

This is just a small list of projects that are being addressed by our city departments. As you can see, some projects take a great deal of time to engineer and implement. We are fortunate the departments were able to fight through the delays to move these projects forward. These projects are an example of why the City Manager hired a grant writer to assist our departments in finding available funding for future projects.

— Dale Girard is mayor of Claremont, NH. His column appears biweekly in the Eagle Times.