Upgrades Ahead for Route 11 Rail Trail Crossing
Andover, NH · October 6, 2026
A crisp October stillness hangs over the Blackwater River this morning, but you will find plenty of motion along the roads and trailheads once the early fog lifts.
The Lead
State transportation officials are moving forward with a $15.4 million overhaul along Route 11 that will replace two 1929 red-listed crossings with a single, continuous span over the Northern Rail Trail and Sucker Brook. The project tackles two persistent structural headaches east of Dyers Crossing Road: an aging five-span railroad overpass and an adjacent concrete arch culvert.
Rather than continually patching both deteriorating crossings, contractor R.S. Audley of Bow will construct a 235-foot steel I-beam bridge along a straightened southern alignment. For local drivers, the new layout eliminates an awkward bottleneck by expanding shoulders to five feet and smoothing out hazardous sightlines. For trail users, the design ensures a wider underpass that preserves uninterrupted passage on the 59-mile route. Utility relocations and corridor clearing ramp up this month, setting the stage for heavy earthwork before winter sets in.
Local Pulse
Transfer Station Steps Up Metal Inspections Safety Attendants are implementing clearer scrap separation signage this month to safeguard local groundwater from hazardous material runoff.
Regional Schools Dismiss Early on Wednesday Schools Classrooms let out midday tomorrow across the district to allow faculty time for scheduled regional curriculum workshops.
Today's Outlook
- High 54°F · Low 40°F — Overcast
- Grab an extra fleece layer today to handle the brisk, stubborn valley chill.
What's On Around Town
Today
Franklin Municipal Election Franklin High School (119 Central St), Franklin, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM · Free Cast your vote in neighboring Franklin's city council and school races.
Lend-a-Hand Tuesdays Veterans Memorial Recreation Area (266 Flaghole Rd), Franklin, 5:00 PM · Free Help groom and clear recreational grounds before cold weather sets in.
Tomorrow
Adult Stick Practice Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Rd), Concord, 10:00–11:15 AM · $15
Highway to the Rangerzone Open Mic Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S Main St), Concord, 6:30 PM · Free
A Beatles Tribute with Studio Two Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St), Concord, 7:30 PM
Thursday
Bach's Lunch Slide Guitar Presentation Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St), Concord, 12:10 PM · Free
Taste of the Trail Franklin Elks Lodge (125 S Main St), Franklin, 5:00–8:00 PM · Paid
Conservation Commission Meeting Town Office (31 School St), 7:00–8:00 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- Potter Place
- In 1814, Richard Potter, America's first Black celebrity entertainer and ventriloquist, purchased 175 acres of farmland here with earnings from national tours. His grand estate is gone, but the plot and surrounding village have carried his name for more than two centuries.
Andover Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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