The long running saga of the Circumferential Highway may finally be coming to an end. After decades of debate, shifting plans, and stalled progress, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) returned to Hudson last week to outline its intention to formally dissolve the project and begin disposing of the land it has held for years.
Special Projects Engineer Bill Oldenburg opened the discussion by acknowledging the project’s complicated history and the confusion surrounding it. “What we’re here for is to talk about dissolving the Circumferential Highway layout,” he said. “In recent years there have been a lot of different proposals called the Circumferential Highway.”
The idea dates back to the 1950s, when regional planners first envisioned a 12 mile “inter-state style” connector looping through Hudson and surrounding communities. A detailed public hearing in 1985 marked the project’s first major step forward, but momentum never fully materialized. Over the years, multiple redesigns attempted to address environmental concerns, wetlands impacts, and shifting development patterns. Still, the project repeatedly stalled due to a lack of local support and the enormous funding required to build it.
Oldenburg explained that dissolving the highway layout is more than a symbolic gesture. “When we say ‘dissolving the highway,’ what do we mean? It will officially end the project,” he said. “It will also remove all of those commitments we might have made, and it will hopefully relieve abutter concerns. It also allows us to dispose of any property we acquired as part of these projects.”
NHDOT currently owns 30 parcels in Hudson, seven of which contain homes. Under state law, unimproved parcels will be offered to the town first at fair market value, while improved parcels will be offered to the current residents who live on them.
Residents at the meeting sought clarity on what the dissolution means for property boundaries and documentation. “Will surveyors mark these properties’ boundaries? All the deeds are recorded, right?” asked resident Roger Hubert.
Officials confirmed that all deeds are properly recorded, though many parcels were never fully surveyed or marked because the project remained in limbo for so long.
For some residents, the announcement marked the end of a decades long fight. “I’m thrilled this is over,” said resident Randy Brownrigg. “I’ve lived here since ’95 and campaigned to stop this highway.” Brownrigg also pressed for details on the scale of the land holdings. “How many acres do you have in Hudson?”
Oldenburg did not have a precise figure but estimated that “several hundred” acres would be affected by the dissolution.
Eric Sargent, Administrator for NHDOT’s Bureau of Right-of-Way, emphasized that the department intends to dispose of all the parcels once the highway layout is officially dissolved. “Once we get this dissolved, we’re going to be diving into each parcel deeper,” he said. “It is planned to dispose of them all, though we have to do more research.”
The Hudson Conservation Commission signaled early interest in acquiring some of the undeveloped parcels for permanent preservation. Speaking as a commission officer, Ken Dickinson said the land could play a meaningful role in protecting open space and natural resources.
“We need time to discuss it in a public setting, and there’s interest in talking to a land trust – maybe more than one,” Dickinson said. He also asked how long it would take for NHDOT to complete the appraisals needed to prepare the land for sale.
Full appraisals are not expected for at least a year, according to Oldenburg. However, he assured town officials that NHDOT would be responsive if the town identifies priority parcels. “If you want a parcel, we will prioritize getting that work done,” he said. “We can line all of our ducks up and get them ready for what you need with funding or closing or whatever. We’re willing to work with you.”
