City of Portsmouth NH Hosts Congress Street Project Public Information Meeting on Dec. 9, 2025
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth NH Department of Public Works is hosting a public information meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 to explain plans for the Congress Street Construction Project anticipated to start on Jan. 5, 2026 and continue to mid-June. The meeting is scheduled for 6 pm in Conference Room A at City Hall (1 Junkins Ave.). To join via Zoom, visit the meeting page and use the registration link provided.
This project is part of the Fleet Street Sewer Separation project required through the City's Long Term Control Plan and Supplemental Compliance Plan. The project is divided into three phases to cover water, sewer, and drainage upgrades along with a full streetscape rework and other pedestrian enhancements. The Congress Street work is part of Phase One infrastructure improvements in Vaughan Mall and upper Congress Street. Phase Two, starting in Spring 2026, will cover the installation of a new drain line from Maplewood Avenue to the outfall at North Mill Pond. Phase Three, anticipated to begin in 2027, covers Fleet Street from Hanover Street to Court Street.
The work on Congress Street is expected to start at Vaughan Mall and proceed towards Maplewood Avenue with the sewer and drainage installations before moving on to begin work between Vaughan Mall and Fleet Street. This portion of work will also include the reconstruction of Congress Street and the temporary restoration of sidewalks, so they are safe for pedestrians over the summer. The final sidewalk restoration will occur in the fall beginning after Labor Day.
The City is proceeding with this work over the winter in an effort to limit impacts on businesses. It is expected that the major utility work and most significant impacts to businesses will be completed over the winter leaving roadway reconstruction for the spring. For more information, visit: https://portsnh.co/Congress_Street.
