Projects

Broadway Railroad Culvert

The purpose of this project was to install an 84-inch drainage pipe under the railroad located near Red’s Shoe Barn to rectify long-standing flooding issues. The new drain pipe replaces an old undersized partially blocked granite box culvert installed in the 1800s when the railroad was built. As part of the project, new drain piping was also installed on Broadway along the frontage of Red’s Shoe Barn and is now connected to the new 84-inch drainage pipe. The new drainage lines will be tied into an existing granite box culvert located in the ravine at the end of Forest Street. Future projects will include installing new drain pipes as part of road reconstruction projects to fix other nearby neighborhoods’ drainage issues. Substantial completion occurred in summer 2021. The area will be repaved in 2022. Click here for project page. 

Central Avenue North Water Water Improvements

The an aging water main along upper Central Avenue from Abby Sawyer (entrance to Garrison Hill Tower) to Glenwood Avenue was replaced from late summer to early winter 2021. The City Council selected N. Granese & Sons, Inc. as the contractor after a competitive bid process. The contractor completed installing new infrastructure in January 2022. The contractor will return in spring 2022 for trench restoration, followed by a complete repaving later in the year. Click here for the project page. 

Chestnut Street Bridge Repairs

The city is preparing to make repairs to the Chestnut Street bridge over the Cochecho River that was built in 1975. The project consists of removing the pavement, membrane and sidewalks on the bridge, repairing deteriorated concrete in the bridge deck, cold planing approach pavement, reconstructing the bridge sidewalks, and installing new bridge membrane, new bridge pavement and new wearing course pavement. Click here for the dedicated project page.

City Hall Structural/Safety Improvements

The have been numerous projects over recent years to repair the Municipal Building that was built in 1935. Repairs have include replacement of electrical service to the building and installation of a sprinkler system on first and second floors. The most recent project was the restoration of the clock tower, which included structural improvements and exterior painting. The clock tower project went out to bid on April 28, 2022. The City Council awarded the bid to Careno Construction Company, LLC for $576,000 on July 13, 2022. Work began on Aug. 15, 2022. During construction, more lead than anticipated was discovered, increasing the cost for abatement. There were also unanticipated additional costs for electrical code upgrades. The City Council authorized an additional $132,370 for the project on Oct. 12, 2022. In the same resolution, the Council also authorized $44,885 for interior painting of City Hall. 

Court Street and Union Street Reconstruction Project

This project would complete a full road reconstruction on Union Street and Court Street from Central Avenue to Middle/Back Road. After a competitive bid process in Spring 2021, a design consultant is working to create engineering plans to allow the City to go out to bid and begin construction, currently targeted to begin 2023. Click here for the project page for more details about the project, including how to sign up for email updates. 

Dover Point Road Roundabout

This project would improve the safety of the intersection of Dover Point Road, Pointe Place and Sheffield Drive,  including the construction of a roundabout to accommodate increased traffic in the area. The project is in the preliminary design phase. A neighborhood meeting about the project is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 6 p.m. at Community Services' public works building at 271 Mast Road. Click here for the dedicated project page.

Fifth Street and Grove Street Reconstruction Project

This project includes upgrading underground utilities and addressing the conditions of the drainage, roadway and sidewalks on Fifth Street and Grove Street, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street. The firm Woodard & Curran of Andover, Massachusetts, is the contracted design consultant for the project, which began work in 2022. Work to date has included geotechnical borings to investigate subsurface conditions within the project area, video inspection of the existing stormwater drain, sewer main and sewer services and creating base surveys. The goal is to have final design plans ready for both projects by the end of 2022 to allow the projects to go for bid and for construction work to begin in 2023. Click here for the dedicated project page.

Inflow and Infiltration

This project is to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration (I/I) from stormwater during heavy rain events, which can overwhelm the Wastewater Treatment Plant and disrupt the treatment process. In efforts to reduce I/I, the city contracted to review approximately 125 miles of gravity sewer main within the City of Dover. With the assistance of consultants, flow meters were installed at points in the sewer system to help narrow the locations of high levels of I/I. The meters registered the downtown area with highest amount of I/I, which the City is now taking steps to address. The first project is installing a new sewer pipe underneath the Spaulding Turnpike in the area of Elliot Park on one side and Mill Street on the other. In March 2021, the City Council selected Northeast Earth Mechanics after a competitive bid process to complete the project at a cost not to exceed $742,000. Work began in summer of 2021 and is expected to be complete mid-fall. The next phase of the project includes repairing maintenance holes and other sewer pipes. Work includes removal of roots, mineral build-up and debris, and grouting of cracks and leaking joints. After a competitive bid process, the City Council in June 2021 awarded the bid for the project to Instituform Technologies, LLC. 

Portland Avenue Retaining Wall

The City plans to replace the retaining wall along Portland Avenue near Cochecho Street. In spring 2021, the City solicited a request for proposals (RFP) from qualified firms for design services tasked with evaluating current conditions and develop design engineering plans for the project. In May 2021, after a competitive bid process, the City Council selected Wright-Pierce for designs services at a cost not to exceed $79,900. 

Pudding Hill Water Treatment Plant Construction

The City is working with Underwood Engineers to design water system improvements off Mast Road. Underwood Engineers are currently designing a water treatment plant to treat the water from the City's two wells behind the public works facility. The Planning Board approved the project's site review application in May 2021. The project went out to bid in September 2021. On Nov. 11, 2021, the City Council selected Penta Corporation of Moultonborough to complete the task at its bid price of $13,927,910. Project competition is anticipated in 18 to 24 months.  

River Street Pump Station Upgrades

Community Services is planning upgrades to the sewage pump station at River Street that will include odor control. 

Sidewalk Improvements

Each year, Community Services Department establishes a list of sidewalks considered to be a high priority for upgrades. The sidewalks selected for upgrades are designed by the Engineering Division and a construction firm is selected via competitive bid. In 2022, a new sidewalk is being constructed on Whittier Street, from Sixth Avenue to Glenwood Avenue. Click here for the dedicated project page.

Stormwater Asset Management 

The City is working with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) through the State Revolving Fund Program to build upon the existing stormwater asset management program. This project will allow the city to apply condition assessment and prioritization concepts to the city’s subsurface stormwater system located in the most urbanized part of the city. The information gathered will be utilized to identify and fund necessary capital improvement projects.

Street Paving Program

This is an annual program to repave roads as part of Community Services' road surface management program. The project went out to bid on March 14, 2022 for the 2022 season. Click here for streets planned for repaving in 2022. Click here for the paving condition index (PCI) for all City streets. 

Traffic Signal Improvements

This project will allow the City of Dover to improve signal timing and traffic flow along Route 108 in the area of Week’s Crossing and through five subsystems of the Central Avenue corridor to Exit 7. The cameras allow for in time adjustments to lights and coordination adjustments during peak times. Furthermore, they allow for real time traffic count information, and automatic incident detection, improving public safety response times.  This project ties in with a concurrent project that Somersworth is proposing, which will improve regional efficiency. 

To review the Engineering Study, click here. 

Washington Street and Main Street Water Improvements Project 

During 2021, the City of Dover replaced approximately 3,000 feet of 133-year-old water mains on Main Street, Washington Street and a portion of Henry Law Avenue in the Downtown area. The project is necessary to provide reliable water service to the homes and businesses in the project area. Click here for the dedicated project page.

Water Meter Replacement

Community Services is working to upgrade all water meters. Many have been replaced, but many still need replacement. It is a priority of Community Services in 2022.