Littleworth Road Water and Sewer Improvements

About the Project 

The existing cast iron water main was constructed over 100 years ago. The serviceable life of the pipe has come to an end. A new 12-inch ductile iron water main will be installed along Littleworth Road (NH Route 9) between Columbus Ave and the bridge over the railroad tracks, as well as along Old Littleworth Road. This will replace the existing 8” cast iron water main. New water services will be installed at each property, to the edge of the right of way. Fire hydrants will be replaced in several locations. Water service through the existing main pipe will be maintained during construction, switching to the new main pipe after connection and testing.

Paving work on Littleworth Road will include trench patches where driveways will be crossed, and larger mill & overlay sections around the intersections of Columbus Ave and Industrial Park Road across from 29 Littleworth Road. Paving work on Old Littleworth Road will be full-width repaving following subsurface utility installation.

Additionally on Old Littleworth Road, new sewer main and services will be installed where none existed prior. Services will be capped at the edge of the right of way. In accordance with RSA 147:8 all property owners with buildings within one hundred feet of the municipal sewer system shall connect to the municipal sewer system. Property owners may apply for a waiver of the mandatory connection from the Dover Utilities Commission (DUC). Additional information may be obtained by calling 603-516-6450 or emailing the project manager (contact info at the bottom of the page).

Traffic and parking restrictions

Along Littleworth Road, traffic will be reduced to one lane alternating directions, controlled by flaggers. The primary location of the new water main will be along the shoulder of the South/West sides of Littleworth Road, and driveways on this side of the highway will experience blockage for a short time as the construction crew proceeds. Ample notice will be given to residents when driveway access will be blocked.

Along Old Littleworth Road, traffic will be restricted to local residents only. Driveway access will be maintained as best as possible, and ample notice will be given to residents when driveway access will be blocked.

Notify city of bulky item trash to ensure pick up

City staff encourages residents in the construction zone who have bulky item waste (and have purchased bulky item tags) to call Community Services at 603-516-6450 before regular trash pickup. This helps the city coordinate with Waste Management and ongoing construction activities and ensure the items are picked up.

Current Work

Stay tuned for weekly updates once this project begins.

Schedule

Construction on Old Littleworth Road is expected to begin mid-October 2026. Final paving and completion of Old Littleworth Road is expected in May 2027.

Construction on Littleworth Road / Route 9 will not begin until the Spring of 2027. Final paving and completion of Littleworth Road is expected in August 2027.

Project Area

Public Meeting - Sept. 29, 2026

A public information meeting was held on September 29th, 2026 at the Community Services Building, where City staff, the design consultant Underwood Engineers, and the contractor GVC Construction presented the project details and answered questions. Below are some questions asked and their answers:

Q: For those on Old Littleworth Rd that will be required to tie into city sewer, will owners still have to pay the sewer investment fee?

A: Yes, per the Dover Utilities Commission (DUC) Rules and Regulations (see link below), property owners connecting to the municipal sewer system are required to pay the investment fee prior to connection. The waiver process is also detailed in the regulations, if property owners wish to apply for a waiver.

Q: Does the city have plans to continue the water main replacement further west down Littleworth Rd?

A: Yes, the City has long term plans to extend the water main west and connect to the north end distribution system to improve resiliency. 

Q: Will there be any restrictions to pedestrians on the walking path along Rte 16 and the pedestrian tunnel under Rte 16?

A: No, but an informational sign will be posted on the walking path to alert pedestrians to construction hazards. The contractor’s crew and/or city staff will alert pedestrians if they are near or approaching a hazardous area.

Q: Are there plans to expand sewer infrastructure on Rte 9 / Littleworth Rd?

A: No, not as a part of this project, and not in any currently planned future projects.

Project email updates

As the project develops, the City of Dover plans regular email updates to help residents and businesses plan for the construction disruption. To sign up for these updates, visit https://bit.ly/dovernewsletters, and add "Project update: Littleworth Road Water and Sewer Improvements" to your email subscription list.

Project documents

Dover Utilities Commission (DUC)

Contact us

Tim Sobieski, Municipal Construction Project Manager Email

Matthew Gibbons, Deputy City Engineer Email

Jillian Semprini, City Engineer Email

Phone: 603-516-6450