Derry Rebuilds English Range Road
In August 2000, the UNH T2 Center went to the town of Derry with their Reconstruction Project Planning Workshop. Participants focused on rebuilding English Range Road an original Range Road created in the 1770’s. It is designated as a scenic road. Last year Derry rebuilt the road using some of the suggestions from the workshop.
In these workshops participants walk a road section soon to be rebuilt. They look at deficiencies and discuss ways to correct them. Dave Blanchard of Derry says, "it’s a class that ties in the workshops Basics of a Good Road and Drainage as a foundation in which to attack a road project." Gus Lerandeau, All States Asphalt, and Maurice Nelson, Pike Industries, co-instruct the class along with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation District Engineers. Everyone participates and learns from one another.
The workshop revealed that inadequate drainage was a primary issue. As a result, Derry installed 2100 feet of underdrain. They replaced and installed 17 culverts. Ditches were cleaned and/or created. In some cases it was necessary to add ditches just to one side of the road based upon the topography.
One goal was to create a uniform road width of 20 feet. Previously, the road width ranged from 17-22 feet. No changes were made to curves or horizontal alignment. They did change the vertical alignment; one hill was lowered by 2 feet. Townspeople were concerned about a fatality that had occurred 8 years before on the hill. To avoid the added costs of repairing any damaged walls on the scenic road all work had to take place within the confines of the stone walls
Before beginning the reconstruction project, the highway department held a public meeting. Since it is a scenic road, the residents were concerned that improvements on the road might change the "look" of it. They also feared drivers would travel faster on the improved wearing surface. Today, traffic travels at the same speeds as before the construction. One apparent benefit is more residents now walk on the road for their exercise.
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Before and After |
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Inadequate drainage is indicated by the cracking. Also, there weren’t any ditches so the water stayed on the road surface. |
Ditches were created to increase drainage, shoulders were backed up giving the roadway support. |
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Before and After |
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A hill created poor sight distance. Again, there was inadequate drainage |
Three feet of ledge was removed. The hill was lowered by 2 feet. Underdrain and catchbasin were installed. The slope of shoulder was cut back, loam added, and then seeded (picture taken before winter sand was swept). |
Special thanks to Dave Blanchard from Derry for his assistance with this article
