5 hours Ago
I HAVE followed the Exit 4A project for nearly 30 years, it is troubling to see its impact on Folsom Road and nearby neighborhoods. In 1997, the Derry Town Council approved a $10-million bond for the project, but I warned the town administrator that costs would exceed this amount. By 2025, the project’s cost has ballooned to $110 million, a yearly increase of $3.
5 million. While everyone touts the project for its economic development potential, Derry has less than 20 acres to develop, while Londonderry has 228 acres. To accommodate the project, Derry has lost around 20 businesses and 11 residences with an estimated $5 million dollars in assessed property value.
Additionally, the town of Derry has decided to put the town’s garage along Folsom Road taking away more tax revenue from the town. Ironically, this area is called the Gateway District, so that one of the welcoming sites to Derry is the town garage. The adjoining residential neighborhood will be significantly affected by the seven lanes of traffic coming off the exit.
As chairman of the Derry Town Council in 2016, we transferred the 4A project to the state Department of Transportation. At the time, a Woodmont developer assured me that the rail trail “tunnel” would be included in the project but DOT changed the “tunnel” plan at the last public hearing, leaving little time for residents to respond. The Derry Rail Trail is supposed to be a cornerstone for economic development in our town and provide access to Londonderry.
Instead, it’s going to end at the 4A Exit because of safety concerns crossing a seven-lane highway exit with 40,000 cars anticipated daily. I believe that the $700,000 cost of the “tunnel” is minimal compared to the cost of Derry’s “Big Dig.” Derry deserves better and NHDOT deserves a lot of criticism for this project.
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