Project Summary

Hoyle Tanner completed a NEPA Categorical Exclusion and Section 4(f) evaluation for the FHWA/NHDOT of replacement of the historic Main Street Bridge, eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and stabilization of the US Route 202 Retaining Wall, a contributing element to the Peterborough Downtown Commercial, Civic, Residential and Historic District, which is also eligible for listing on the National Register. Other Section 4(f) resources involved included the 1892 Peterborough Town Library, the Transcript Dam, and the Brick Block. Intersection improvements were also included in the project. 

Minimizing impacts to the historic resources was important to the alternative analysis process, with Town input, traffic control, and impacts to downtown businesses also playing a part. Balancing the desires of the Town, NHDOT, NHSHPO and ACHP was a collaborative and iterative process. Upon initial completion of the NEPA process, proposed design changes to the Peterborough Library prompted the need to re-evaluate the NEPA determination to allow for slight changes to the Section 4(f) and environmental resources impacts; Hoyle Tanner worked closely with NHDOT to determine the correct steps to successful completion of this process. 

Because the Contoocook River is listed as EFH for Atlantic salmon, coordination with NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service to evaluate the potential impact from the project also occurred.