Interstate 293 New Hampshire

History
North End
South End

Overview

Interstate 293 encircles Manchester west of I-93 and north of NH 101 from the town of Bedford. The freeway diverts traffic from Interstate 93, U.S. 3, and the F.E. Everett Turnpike along side the Merrimack River and Downtown Manchester.

History

The F.E. Everett Turnpike portion of Interstate 293 opened from NH 101 north to NH 3A (Queen City Avenue) in August 1955. I-293 between Queen City Avenue and the turnpike mainline along Interstate 93 followed with completion during August 1957.1

Originally, the east-west section of I-293 between the F.E. Everett Turnpike and I-93 was designated as Interstate 193. It opened in 1961 as part of the NH 101 upgrade planned between Manchester and the Seacoast. When Interstate 93 was completed to the east of Manchester in 1977, I-193 was renumbered as I-293 with the route extended north along the toll free portion of the Everett Turnpike through the city.2 AASHTO approved the redesignation on July 13, 1976.

Route Information

  • North End – Hooksett, NH

  • South End – Manchester, NH

  • Mileage – 11.18

  • Cities – Manchester

  • Junctions – I-93 F.E. Everett Tpk

Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-293 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2015 AADT NHDOT Traffic Volume Reports

Highway Guides

North End I-93 F.E. Everett Tpk – Hooksett, New Hampshire

Perspective from Interstate 293 north
Interstate 293 parallels New Hampshire 3A (Front Street) and the Merrimack River closely from Downtown Manchester north to the merge with I-93 north. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 293 reconnects with I-93 just beyond the Hooksett town line in Merrimack County. Photo taken 06/27/05.
The return ramp to Interstate 93 south back into Manchester represents the last departure point before the tolled F.E. Everett Turnpike resumes northhbound. I-293 merges onto the left side of I-93 ahead of Exit 11 to Hackett Hill Road and NH 3A (River Road) in Hooksett. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Perspective from Interstate 93 south
One mile ahead of the split with the F.E. Everett Turnpike (Interstate 293) on I-93 south in the town of Hooksett. I-293 overlays the toll free portion of the turnpike 8.4 miles to NH 101 at Bedford. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 93 separates from the F.E. Everett Turnpike along a sweeping three lane ramp. I-93 runs along the east side of Manchester while I-293 leads south directly to Downtown. The F.E. Everett Turnpike extends south from Bedford to Nashua and the U.S. 3 freeway to Lowell, Massachusetts. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Historic perspective from Interstate 93 south
Older diagrammatic sign for the I-93/293 split along the F.E. Everyett Turnpike southbound. This overhead was replaced by 2005. Photo taken by Dan Moraseski (10/00).
Perspective from Interstate 93 north
Interstate 93 shifts onto the F.E. Everett Turnpike north with three lanes at the modified trumpet interchange with I-293 south back into Manchester. The toll road extends nine miles north to I-89 at Bow Junction. Photo taken by Cullen Wassell (09/01).

South End I-93 NH 101 – Manchester, New Hampshire

Perspective from Interstate 293 south & New Hampshire 101 east
I-293 south & NH 101 east advance to within a half mile of Interstate 93. The two overlap east from the F.E. Everett Turnpike at Bedford. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Traffic partitions at the full Y-interchange with Interstate 93. The towns of Derry and Salem are located along I-93 south between Manachester and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Portsmouth is the eastbound control city for New Hampshire 101 beyond I-93 north. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Historic perspective from Interstate 293 south & New Hampshire 101 east
Former bridge mounted signs at Huse Road for I-93 and the continuation of NH 101 north. Photo taken by Cullen Wassell (09/01).
Interstate 93 travels 23 miles north from I-293 to the capital city of Concord and 57 miles south to Boston, Massachusetts. Photo taken by Cullen Wassell (09/01).
Perspective from Interstate 93 south & New Hampshire 101 west
New Hampshire 101 westbound merges onto Interstate 93 south at a three-wye interchange (Exit 7). The two routes head south beyond ramps with Hanover Street and Candia Road to their separation at I-293 north. Photo taken 06/27/05.
New Hampshire 101 is a freeway joining Hampton Beach and I-95 with Manchaster. The state route combines with I-293 west to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) via NH 3A (Brown Avenue) south and the town of Bedford. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Two lanes partition from Interstate 93 south for I-293 north & NH 101 west across the south side of Manchester. NH 101 extends west from the F.E. Everett Turnpike and I-293 as a freeway to NH 114 in Bedford. The state route continues from there to Milford and Keene. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Perspective from Interstate 93 north
A wide median separates the roadways along I-93 two miles ahead of the unnumbered exchange with I-293 north & NH 101 west. Photo taken 06/27/05.
A left exit departs in one mile for I-293 north & NH 101 west to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), Bedford and Downtown Manchester. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 293 is the first of four interchanges along I-93 northbound for the city of Manchester. Ensuing ramps connect with Canadia Road/Hanover Street, Bridge Street and U.S. 3/NH 28. Photo taken 06/27/05.
NH 101 combines with I-93 north 1.5 miles from the south end of Interstate 293. The Manchester freeway loop returns to I-93 in 7.5 miles at South Hooksett. Photo taken 06/27/05.

Sources:

  1. Everett Turnpike (US 3, I-293, and I-93) (Boston Roads).
  2. NH 101 Expressway, BostonRoads.com.

Page updated February 14, 2019.