The Route 102 Sidewalk Project officially began accepting Request for Proposal (RFP) bids following the overwhelming approval of Warrant Article 8 at Hudson’s March 10 town election.
According to town officials, the project will consist of “approximately 2,400 linear feet of sidewalk along the east side of Derry Road (NH Route 102). The proposed sidewalk will connect the Town Center at Library Common to Alvirne High School, improving pedestrian connectivity and safety along this main corridor.”
A recent priority by Director of Development Services Elvis Dhima and the Hudson Engineering Department, the Route 102 Project won support from Concord politicians when it was added to New Hampshire’s latest Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan, opening the door to an 80%/20% cost share between the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) and the Town of Hudson.
“This project will be funded with $1.6 million from NHDOT Ten-Year Improvement Grant, and $400,000 from corridor funds,” said Selectman Heidi Jakoby.
Under Warrant Article 8, the town is authorized to spend up to $2 million on the project using corridor funds, with the expectation that the $1.6 will be reimbursed by NHDOT.
“We had to gross appropriate,” said Town Administrator Roy Sorenson, who stressed that no taxpayer money will be used on the sidewalk. “We have what are known as corridor funds, these were collected from the Planning Board over the years for certain types of development for whatever may be going on in the community.”
Sorenson praised the approval of what he called “a great project” set to solve an important issue seen as significant across Southern New Hampshire.
“We have an abundance of road issues, not just locally, but throughout the state,” he claimed. Mr. Dhima did his research early on with a corridor study to look at the sidewalks and why it makes sense. This is a major corridor; you’re talking about connecting schools back to other areas of connectivity throughout the town. There’s a lot of foot traffic and a lot of movement during certain parts of the year.”
Jakoby added that “corridor funds must be expended” and that it was necessary to” always have projects ready” for corridor fund revenue, the use of which is limited by state law. Hudson has until 2032 to expend the $2 million on the Route 102 Sidewalk Project.
Even with another six years to use the money, Dhima and the Engineering Department hoped to move quickly, setting April 10, 2026, as the closing date for any qualified RFP submissions for preliminary engineering services.
“The planning it took to get us to this point has certainly paid off,” said Sorenson. “The town is investing.”
According to the Engineering Department, submittals should include a “brief summary” of a firm’s experience with similar projects and NHDOT’s Municipality Managed State Road Program, “names and descriptions of key personnel who will be responsible for managing and designing the project,” and a list of references from “clients for whom similar projects have been completed within the last seven years.”
In his request, Dhima hoped to attract contractors experienced in working with the Town of Hudson.