Interstate 393 New Hampshire

Overview

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

History

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the addition of the 3.5 mile long spur route in Concord to the Interstate System on October 31, 1974 under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 103(e)(1). The designation of Interstate 393 was approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) on July 13, 1976.

The freeway spur initially ran east from the preexisting cloverleaf interchange between I-93 and the U.S. 3-4-202 connector to NH 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 Route 101 to a 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 –

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-393 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2008 to 2015 AADT NHDOT Traffic Volume Reports

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 by Dan Moraseski (10/00).

Highway Guides

Interstate 393 New Hampshire

East End – Pembroke, New Hampshire

East at

I-393/U.S. 4-202 proceed east from the diamond interchange (Exit 3) with NH 106 (Sheep Davis Road) across the Soucook River to converge with NH 9 (Dover Road). 10/06/14

A reassurance guide sign omits Interstate 393 at the Horse Corner Road underpass. U.S. 4 east / U.S. 202 north overlap another 16.5 miles along Dover Road to Northwood. 10/06/14

U.S. 4-202/NH 9 east combine six miles east from I-393 to NH 28 near Gossville. NH 9 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. 10/06/14

West at

U.S. 4/202 and NH 9 (Dover Road) split at a wye interchange with Interstate 393 at the Chichester and Pembroke town line. 08/21/21

I-393 provides a direct connection with the Concord area Interstates while NH 9 shifts onto parallel Loudon Road. 08/21/21

I-93/U.S. 4-202 overlap west to I-93. NH 9 turns southwest toward Steeplegate Mall and Concord Municipal Airport (CON). 08/21/21

I-393 and NH 9 (Loudon Road) intertwine west to respective 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) leads toward Downtown Concord. 08/21/21

NHDOT uses small guide signs in place of stand alone shields as reassurance markers on most freeways and state routes. The first Interstate 393 marker stands just beyond the U.S. 4/202 split with NH 9 (Loudon Road). 10/06/14

West End – Concord, New Hampshire

West at

I-393/U.S. 4-202 lower across the Merrimack River ahead of Exit 1 for College Drive. 10/06/14

U.S. 4 separates from I-393/U.S. 202 west for a 5.5 mile long overlap with Interstate 93 north to Exit 17 and Andover. 08/21/21

An unnumbered loop ramp follows from I-393/U.S. 202 west for Interstate 93 south toward Manchaster. I-93 advances 3.5 miles to the exchange with I-89 north to Lebanon. 08/21/21

RIRO (right in right out) ramps connect the west end of I-393/U.S. 202 with Commercial Street. Commercial Street links both sides of the freeway with Constitution Avenue to the east and a nearby business park. 06/27/05

I-393/U.S. 202 pass over an abandoned railroad line ahead of the at-grade intersection with U.S. 3 (N Main Street). U.S. 202 combines with U.S. 3 south for 0.7 miles through Downtown Concord. U.S. 3 north heads toward the Penacook section of the city. 06/27/05

North at

U.S. 3/202 (N Main Street) intersect Washington Street just ahead of their split at I-393 in Concord. 07/30/07

U.S. 3 shifts onto Bouton Street northwest to N State Street to Penacook in north Concord and U.S. 4 at Boscawen. U.S. 202 combines with Interstate 393 east for Chichester and Rochester. 07/30/07

South at

U.S. 3 (Bouton Street) south intersects the west end of I-393 at N Main Street. I-393/U.S. 202 provide a direct connection to I-93 and U.S. 4 to the immediate east. 07/30/07

East at

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. 07/30/07

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. 07/30/07

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 to the town of Canterbury. U.S. 4 branches west from there to Boscawen while I-93 travels 41 miles north to Plymouth. 10/06/14

North at

Interstate 93 advances north through the diamond interchange (Exit 14) with NH 9 to Exit 15 for I-393/U.S. 4-202. Interstate 393 comprises a spur west to U.S. 3 (N Main Street) and east along side U.S. 4/202 to the town of Chichester. 10/06/14

A previous set of overheads on Interstate 93 north for Exit 15. U.S. 202 west combines with U.S. 3 (N Main Street) south from the I-393 Connector. Photo by Douglas Kerr (09/30/01).

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. 10/06/14

South East at

I-93/U.S. 4 head one mile south from Exit 16 at Portsmouth Street to I-393/U.S. 202 in Concord. 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. 06/27/05

U.S. 4 combines with I-393/U.S. 202 east from I-93 south at Exit 15E. The three routes continue with interchanges for Ft. Eddy Road, NH 132 (East Side Drive) and NH 106 (Sheep Davis Drive). 10/06/14

Sources:

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

Page updated May 29, 2022.