Two Intersections Improvements Route 1 Bypass/Coakley Road/Cottage Street, and Market Street at Russell Street

The City of Portsmouth is seeking an experienced and qualified firm or team of firms to respond to Two Intersections Improvements Route 1 Bypass/Coakley Road/Cottage Street, and Market Street at Russell Street . Proposals are to be submitted via the City's e-Procurement Portal via https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityofportsmouth . Proposals will be accepted until 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 5, 2026 .

Project work may include and may not be limited to:

1. Preliminary Exploration
   1. Provide necessary preliminary engineering exploration as needed. This shall include, but not be limited to, Wetlands Delineation, Geotechnical analysis, Right-of-Way, Topographical and Utility Survey, etc.
2. Construction Document Development
   1. Provide all necessary engineering to provide the City with a construction level design for the scope of work.
   2. Documents shall include “Issued for Bid” Drawing Package, Engineer’s Cost Estimate, Specifications, and Bid Tab.
   3. Provide Addenda as needed during bidding process. Provide “Issued for Construction” Drawing Package and revised Specifications after integrating all addendum items after Contract is awarded to the Contractor.
   4. Provide recordable Easement plans and deed descriptions (If necessary).
3. Permitting
   1. The Consultant shall determine the extent of Permits required for the project.
   2. Provide permit applications and submit the required documents to obtain permits.
4. Meetings
   1. Attend a design kick-off meeting and subsequent design meetings as necessary.
   2. Attend meetings with City staff at regular intervals for review of 60%, IFB and IFC drawing sets.
   3. Attend public information meetings. Assume 1.
   4. Attend Parking and Traffic Safety Committee meeting to present draft recommendations
   5. Attend mandatory Pre-Bid meeting with perspective Bidders.

The Route 1 Bypass experiences significant congestion south of the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, due in part to the proximity of the two traffic signals at the intersections of Coakley Road/Cottage Street and at Borthwick Avenue/Hodgdon Way. This results in long queues on the Bypass and cut-through traffic in the Bartlett Street neighborhood. The City has been awarded a CMAQ grant to determine the feasibility of removing the traffic signal and prohibiting left turns to and from the Bypass at the Coakley Road/Cottage Street intersection. Left turns would be redirected to the intersection of Borthwick Avenue/Hodgdon Way via a new connector road the City will build between Coakley Road and Borthwick Avenue, and via Cate Street once the Cate Street bridge is reconstructed under a separate LPA project. The project was first conceived by the NHDOT about 20 years ago.

The Market Street and Russell Street unsignalized intersection is a gateway intersection to downtown Portsmouth. With recently constructed private development projects in the surrounding area, and several more coming on line in the next few years, this intersection will experience increases in traffic and will need improvements to its capacity. The City has obtained easements or property needed to possibly construct a roundabout at this intersection. An engineering study is the first step needed to determine the best alternative for improving this location, which could also be transformed into a visually attractive gateway to the downtown area.