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U.S. Route 1 Bypass (New Hampshire)
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 1 Bypass is a 4.3 miles (6.9 km) long bypass of U.S. Route 1
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
and Kittery, Maine
. Most of its north section, northeast of the Portsmouth Circle
where it meets the Blue Star Turnpike (Interstate 95) and Spaulding Turnpike
, is built to rudimentary freeway standards, with no cross traffic but driveway
access. The southern portion is similarly constructed, although there are two four-way intersections with traffic light
s just south of the circle and a third at its south end, just before intersecting with US-1
.
passing over without an interchange, and continues to the west of the city. US-1 Bypass has two at-grade intersections, with Borthwick Avenue and Coakley Road/Cottage Street before it comes to a large rotary, the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, where it interchanges with I-95 and the southern end of the Spaulding Turnpike/Route 16
(which is also the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 4
). US-1 Bypass enters the circle from the southeast and leaves via the first exit, turning to the northeast towards Maine.
Upon leaving the rotary, US-1 Bypass immediately interchanges with Woodbury Avenue, which provides access to downtown and directly serves the retail district of Newington
. The highway continues to the northeast, interchanging with Maplewood Avenue, and crossing over Market Street (no interchange) before reaching the Piscataqua River and crossing the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge into Kittery, Maine.
The bypass crosses the Piscataqua River
on the 1940 Sarah Mildred Long Bridge
, a lift bridge
maintained by the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge Authority.
. US-1 Bypass crosses over Route 103, but does not directly interchange with the highway. The remaining stretch of highway up to the junction with US-1 ceases to be limited-access, with local businesses and parking lots straddling the roadway. The final exit on the bypass connects to US-1 and Route 236
. This ramp best serves Route 236 northbound, which connects to I-95, and US-1 southbound for drivers destined for southern Kittery, Badgers Island, or returning to Portsmouth. US-1 Bypass north merges directly onto US-1 northbound, which provides a direct connection to I-95 North.
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
and Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
. Most of its north section, northeast of the Portsmouth Circle
Portsmouth Traffic Circle
The Portsmouth Traffic Circle is a four-point rotary in the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.-Description:The southern exit of the circle provides access to Interstate 95 north and south, although only northbound I-95 traffic enters here. The eastern and northern exits are part of the U.S. Route 1...
where it meets the Blue Star Turnpike (Interstate 95) and Spaulding Turnpike
Spaulding Turnpike
The Spaulding Turnpike is a toll road in New Hampshire, USA, running from Interstate 95 in Portsmouth northwest to Milton. The turnpike roughly parallels the Maine border, and in the mid-1990s New Hampshire Route 16 was re-signed onto the turnpike...
, is built to rudimentary freeway standards, with no cross traffic but driveway
Driveway
A driveway is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group....
access. The southern portion is similarly constructed, although there are two four-way intersections with traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
s just south of the circle and a third at its south end, just before intersecting with US-1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
.
New Hampshire
US-1 Bypass begins in the south as a left exit off of Lafayette Road (US-1) in Portsmouth. It is a partial interchange: the bypass can only be accessed from US-1 northbound, and traffic headed southbound on the bypass merges directly onto US-1 southbound. Opposing directions can be accessed via the connecting local roads near the interchange. US-1 Bypass heads northwest, with Route 33New Hampshire Route 33
New Hampshire Route 33 is an long east–west highway in the Seacoast Region of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is the main road connecting Stratham with Portsmouth. The eastern terminus of NH 33 is in Portsmouth at U.S. Route 1...
passing over without an interchange, and continues to the west of the city. US-1 Bypass has two at-grade intersections, with Borthwick Avenue and Coakley Road/Cottage Street before it comes to a large rotary, the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, where it interchanges with I-95 and the southern end of the Spaulding Turnpike/Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16
New Hampshire Route 16 is a long north–south highway in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Much of its length is close to the border with Maine. NH 16 is the main route from the Seacoast region north to the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The section from Portsmouth to Milton is a...
(which is also the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 4
U.S. Route 4
U.S. Route 4 is a long United States highway that runs from East Greenbush, New York, in the west to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in the east, traversing through Vermont.In New York, US 4 is signed north–south to reflect its alignment in the state...
). US-1 Bypass enters the circle from the southeast and leaves via the first exit, turning to the northeast towards Maine.
Upon leaving the rotary, US-1 Bypass immediately interchanges with Woodbury Avenue, which provides access to downtown and directly serves the retail district of Newington
Newington, New Hampshire
Newington is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 753 at the 2010 census. It is bounded to the west by Great Bay, northwest by Little Bay and northeast by the Piscataqua River. It is home to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease , and to the New...
. The highway continues to the northeast, interchanging with Maplewood Avenue, and crossing over Market Street (no interchange) before reaching the Piscataqua River and crossing the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge into Kittery, Maine.
The bypass crosses the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
on the 1940 Sarah Mildred Long Bridge
Sarah Mildred Long Bridge
The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge is a lift bridge that carries the US 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. The bridge is a double deck truss bridge, with the US 1 Bypass road deck above and a railroad bed below....
, a lift bridge
Lift bridge
A vertical-lift bridge or lift bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck....
maintained by the Maine-New Hampshire Interstate Bridge Authority.
Maine
Upon crossing into Maine, US-1 Bypass interchanges with Bridge Street (northbound) and Oak Terrace (southbound), local roads which provide a connection to Route 103Maine State Route 103
State Route 103 is a long state highway in extreme southern Maine. The route is signed east–west, but forms a half-loop, with most of its eastern segment skirting the Piscataqua River and the state border with New Hampshire.-Route description:...
. US-1 Bypass crosses over Route 103, but does not directly interchange with the highway. The remaining stretch of highway up to the junction with US-1 ceases to be limited-access, with local businesses and parking lots straddling the roadway. The final exit on the bypass connects to US-1 and Route 236
Maine State Route 236
State Route 236, also known as the Dow Highway, is a long state highway in southwestern Maine. It runs from south to north, from an intersection with State Route 103 in Kittery to an intersection with State Route 9 in Berwick, just east of the border with New Hampshire.-Route description:The...
. This ramp best serves Route 236 northbound, which connects to I-95, and US-1 southbound for drivers destined for southern Kittery, Badgers Island, or returning to Portsmouth. US-1 Bypass north merges directly onto US-1 northbound, which provides a direct connection to I-95 North.