Interstate 293 New Hampshire
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 alongside 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
The New Hampshire Department of Public Works and Highways proposed numbering the Interstate route into the urban area of Manchester as I-193 to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on July 11, 1958. AASHO approved I-193 as the lone entry for the New Hampshire proposed urban Interstate numerology on November 10, 1958.
Interstate 193 was a spur extending west from I-93 to an interchange joining the F.E. Everett Turnpike with U.S. 3 (2nd Street) in Manchester. It opened in 1961 as part of the NH 101 upgrade planned between Manchester and the Seacoast.
The New Hampshire Department of Public Works and Highways requested to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on June 17, 1976 for the designation of an Interstate Loop around Manchester. The request focused on the addition of 5.4 miles of the F.E. Everett Turnpike from I-193 to the segment of I-93 under construction to the north of Manchester. The FHWA agreed that the route would be a logical addition to the Interstate System and that it was up to current standards. The route was approved under the provision of 23 U.S.C. 139(a) with the designation of Interstate 293 by August 9, 1976.
A previous application approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on July 13, 1976 subject to FHWA concurrence requested the renumbering of I-193 to I-293:
It is proposed that, upon completion of I-93 (under construction) in the northeast section of Manchester, the designation of I-193 be changed to I-293 and the route be extended along the F.E. Everett Turnpike to its interchange with I-93. I-93 proceeds northerly along the F.E. Everett Turnpike as a toll facility.
The proposal would provide a complete loop of I-93 to I-93
Interstate 93 was completed to the east of Manchester in 1977. I-193 was renumbered as I-293 and the route extended north along the toll free portion of the Everett Turnpike through the city.2
Route Information
North End – Hooksett, NH
South End – Manchester, NH
Mileage – 11.18
Cities – Manchester
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-293 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
Source: 2015 AADT NHDOT Traffic Volume Reports
Highway Guides
North End – Hooksett, New Hampshire
North at 
Interstate 293 parallels NH 3A (Front Street) and the Merrimack River closely from Downtown Manchester north to the merge with I-93. Photo by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
Interstate 293 reconnects with I-93 just beyond the Hooksett town line in Merrimack County. Photo by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
The return ramp to I-93 south back into Manchester represents the last departure point before the tolled F.E. Everett Turnpike resumes northbound. I-293 merges on the left side of I-93 ahead of Exit 11 to Hackett Hill Road and NH 3A (River Road). Photo by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
South at
One mile ahead of the split with the F.E. Everett Turnpike (Interstate 293) on I-93 south in the town of Hooksett. 10/06/14
I-293 overlays the toll free portion of the F.E. Everett Turnpike 8.4 miles to NH 101 at Bedford. The Turnpike extends south from Bedford to Nashua and the freeway along U.S. 3 to Lowell, Massachusetts. 10/06/14
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. 10/06/14
North at
Interstate 93 northbound crosses the Merrimack River into the town of Hooksett ahead of both NH 3A and I-293 (F.E. Everett Turnpike) south. 10/06/14
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. 10/06/14
The F.E. Everett Turnpike extends nine miles north along I-93 from I-293 to I-89 at Bow Junction. 10/06/14
North End Throwback
Older diagrammatic sign for the I-93/293 split along the F.E. Everyett Turnpike southbound. This assembly was replaced by 2005. Photo by Dan Moraseski (10/00).
06/27/05
06/27/05
Previous overheads at the merge with Interstate 293 on I-93 northbound. Photo by Cullen Wassell (09/01).
South End 
– Manchester, New Hampshire
South 
East at
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 by Peter Johnson (09/28/19).
Traffic partitions at the full-Y interchange with I-93. The towns of Derry and Salem are located along I-93 south between Manchester and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Portsmouth is the eastbound control city for NH 101 beyond I-93 north. Photo by Peter Johnson (09/28/19).
North at
A wide median separates the roadways along I-93 two miles ahead of the unnumbered exchange with I-293 north / NH 101 west. Photo by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
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 by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
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 by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
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 by H.B. Elkins (06/01/13).
North at
NH 101 westbound merges with Interstate 93 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 by H.B. Elkins (05/31/13).
NH 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. 06/27/05
Two lanes partition from I-93 south for I-293/NH 101 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 by H.B. Elkins (05/31/13).
South End Throwback
Former overheads at Huse Road for I-93 and the continuation of NH 101 north. Photo 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 by Cullen Wassell (09/01).
Sources:
Page updated May 29, 2022.
