Interstate 393 New Hampshire

History
East End
West End

Overview

Interstate 393 is a spur freeway taking traffic from Interstate 93 and the state capital of Concord to points east along U.S. 4 and 202. These two routes continue to Portsmouth and Rochester, respectively. The freeway bypasses Concord Municipal Airport (CON) and the commercialized corridor of NH 9 (former U.S. 4 & 202) to the north.

History

The designation of Interstate 393 was approved by AASHTO on July 13, 1976. The freeway initially ran east from the preexisting cloverleaf interchange between I-93 and the U.S. 3-4-202 connector to New Hampshire 9 (Loudon Road) in August 1981.1 The route was proposed to extend east from Concord to the Spaulding Turnpike in 1983, but that extension was dropped in favor of upgrading New Hampshire 101 to a full freeway between I-93 and I-95.2 That left construction of the eastern leg of I-393 beyond NH 106, which opened in December 1988.3

Route Information

  • East End – Pembroke, NH

  • West End – Concord, NH

  • Mileage – 4.60

  • Cities – Concord

  • Junctions – I-93

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

I-393 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2008 to 2015 AADT NHDOT Traffic Volume Reports

I-393 Connector at Commercial St
A previous reassurance sign posted east of U.S. 3. U.S. 4 combines with Interstate 393 from I-93 south. The sign was removed by 2005. Photo taken by Dan Moraseski (10/00).

Highway Guides

East End US 4 US 202 NH 9 – Pembroke, New Hampshire

Perspective from Interstate 393 & U.S. 4/202 east
Interstate 393 & U.S. 4-202 leave the diamond interchange (Exit 3) with NH 106 (Sheep Davis Road) and approach the merge onto NH 9 (Dover Road) eastbound. Photo taken 06/27/05.
A reassurance guide sign omits Interstate 393 at the Soucook River crossing. U.S. 4 east & 202 north continue another 16.5 miles along Dover Road to their split at Northwood. Photo taken 06/27/05.
The final Interstate 393 ITS milepost stands along the freeway at the wye interchange with New Hampshire 9 (Dover Road). Photo taken 06/27/05.
U.S. 4-202 & NH 9 east continues six miles east from I-393 to NH 28 near Gossville. NH9 follows U.S. 202 beyond Northwood to Barrington and Dover. Like many New England Routes, NH 9 is part of a longer multi-state route in both Maine and Vermont. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Perspective from U.S. 4 & 202 and New Hampshire 9 west
U.S. 4/202 and NH 9 (Dover Road) split at Interstate 393 and the Chichester and Pembroke town line. I-393 provides a direct connection with the Concord area Interstates while NH 9 shifts onto parallel Loudon Road. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 393 & U.S. 4-202 separate from NH 9 west at a wye interchange. Interstate 393 & U.S. 4-202 overlap west to I-93. NH 9 turns southwest toward Steeplegate Mall and Concord Municipal Airport (CON). Photo taken 06/27/05.
Photo taken by Jeff Royston (12/02).
I-393 and NH 9 (Loudon Road) intertwine west to repective junctions with NH 106 (Sheep Davis Road). NH 9 continues to the Concord Heights Business District. I-393 west to I-93 south or U.S. 3 (Main Street South) leads motorists toward Downtown Concord. Photo taken 06/27/05.
NHDOT uses small guide signs in place of stand-alone shields as reassurance markers on most freeways and surface highways. Pictured here is the first Interstate 393 marker posted after the split with NH 9 (Loudon Road). Photo taken by Jeff Royston (12/02).

West End I-93 US 3 US 4 US 202 – Concord, New Hampshire

Perspective from Interstate 393 & U.S. 202 west
Interstate 393 & U.S. 202 west split with U.S. 4 west at the northbound on-ramp to I-93. U.S. 4 overlaps with I-93 northward 5.5 miles to Exit 17 and Andover. Photo taken 06/27/05.
An unnumbered loop ramp follows from I-393 & U.S. 202 west for Interstate 93 south toward Manchaster. I-93 runs 3.5 miles south to the exchange with I-89 north to Lebanon. Photo taken 06/27/05.
RIRO (right in right out) ramps connect the west end of the I-393/U.S. 202 freeway with Commercial Street. Commercial Street links both sides of the freeway with Constitution Avenue to the east and a nearby business park. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Interstate 393 & U.S. 202 pass over an abandoned railroad line ahead of the at-grade intersection with U.S. 3 (North Main Street). U.S. 202 combines with U.S. 3 south for a 0.7 mile overlap through Downtown Concord. U.S. 3 north heads toward the Penacook section of the city. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Perspective of U.S. 3 north & 202 east
U.S. 3 & 202 (North Main Street) intersects Washington Street just ahead of their split at I-393 in Concord. Photo taken 06/27/05.
U.S. 3 northbound continues along North State Street to Penacook in north Concord and Boscawen (U.S. 4). I-393 & U.S. 202 provide a direct connection to I-93 and U.S. 4 o the immediate east. Photo taken 06/27/05.
U.S. 202 leaves U.S. 3 northbound via the Interstate 393 freeway east for Chichester and Rochester. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Perspective of Interstate 393 & U.S. 202 east
Commercial Street ties into the eastbound lanes of I-393/U.S. 202 at a RIRO (right in right out) intersection preceding the cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 93 and U.S. 4 west. Photo taken 06/27/05.
The exit to Interstate 93 southbound toward Manchester, and Boston departs I-393 & U.S. 202 east. The ramp also connects with Stickney Avenue southbound. I-93 travels 3.5 miles south to I-89 and the F.E. Everett Turnpike. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Continuing over I-93, I-393 & U.S. 202 reach the loop ramp for I-93 north & U.S. 4 west. The two routes overlap 5.6 miles north oto the town of Canterbury. U.S. 4 branches west from there to Boscawen while I-93 travels 41 miles north to Plymouth. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Perspective from Interstate 93 north
Interstate 93 advances north through the diamond interchange (Exit 14) with NH 9 to I-393 & U.S. 4-202 (Exit 15). Interstate 393 comprises a spur west to U.S. 3 (North Main Street) and east along side U.S. 4/202 to the town of Chichester. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Exit 15E departs Interstate 93 northbound for the I-393 & U.S. 4/202 east to Loudon and Chichester. U.S. 4 and U.S. 202 join Concord with Portsmouth and Rochester respectively. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Historic perspective from Interstate 93 north
The previous set of overheads posted on Interstate 93 northbound at Exit 14. U.S. 202 west combines with U.S. 3 (North Main Street) south from the I-393 Connector. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (09/30/01).
Perspective from Interstate 93 south
Merging onto Interstate 93 south & U.S. 4 east from Portsmouth Street (Exit 16) north of Concord. The freeway proceeds south one mile from the Portsmouth Street to Interstate 393 & U.S. 202 at Exit 15. Photo taken 06/27/05.
Exit 15W leaves Interstate 93 south & U.S. 4 east for the I-393 Connector and U.S. 202 west to U.S. 3 (Main Street) north of Downtown Concord. Photo taken 06/27/05.
U.S. 4 parts ways with Interstate 93 southbound and combines with I-393 & U.S. 202 east at Exit 15E. The three routes continue east with interchanges for Ft. Eddy Road, NH 132 (East Side Drive), and NH 106 (Sheep Davis Drive). Photo taken 06/27/05.

Sources:

  1. “Briefs about New Hampshire.” The Telegraph, January 4, 1982.
  2. “East-west highway study is proposed.” The Telegraph, February 22, 1983.
  3. “100th Anniversary Series Part III – The Interstate Highway System.” New Hampshire Highways, May / June 2004 edition.

Page updated May 27, 2015.