Latest news with #NewHampshireDepartmentofTransportation
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Suicide prevention signage installed on Piscataqua River Bridge
May 17—Following a string of suicides over the Piscataqua River, officials this week installed new signage on bridges aimed at reducing such attempts, but some locals and mental health advocates say more needs to be done. In less than two weeks, from late April to early May, three people died by suicide after jumping into the river. Two jumped from the Piscataqua River Bridge that carries Interstate 95 between New Hampshire and Maine, and another from the smaller Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, according to state and local law enforcement. Kelly Hartnett, vice president of community relations at Portsmouth-based Seacoast Mental Health Center, said seeing so many deaths in such a narrow window of time is "definitely unusual" compared to trends over the last decade. "I have not experienced this type of event in that frequency," in about six years on the job, Hartnett said. On Thursday, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation installed six signs on the larger bridge — three each on the northbound and southbound sides — Hartnett said. She said the agency, which assists with some crisis calls on and around the bridges, had already been working with the Portsmouth Police Department to install signage and other preventative measures. "We had been working on that initiative prior to the unfortunate events. That kind of accelerated the efforts," she said. The signs bear a relatively simple message: "There is hope. YOU MATTER. Text. Call. Chat. 988." That number rings the national suicide and crisis lifeline, which connects individuals with a live counselor and local resources. "It's a step forward, but we are looking now to add nets or some kind of barriers. That's the evidence-based model, having both (signs and barriers)," Hartnett said. When an individual plans to die by suicide, they often do so hastily or impulsively, so a clear and quick message helps get through to those in crisis, Hartnett said. When more time is created between someone planning and acting, crisis teams have a better chance of intervening. In that sense, even physical barriers that appear scalable require additional effort and help create a buffer in time, she said. Multiple studies have shown that safety barriers are extremely effective at reducing the suicide rate on a particular structure and, in some cases, the overall suicide rate within a community. This latest string of suicides came as crews began installing safety fencing on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in Augusta. That project is expected to cost about $1.35 million and is slated for completion in July, according to Maine Department of Transportation spokesperson Damian Veilleux. The fencing was mandated by the Maine Legislature in 2023 after a number of similar bills had failed to pass. The project was delayed slightly by testing to determine the fences' potential impact on the bridge's overall wind resistance. CALLS FOR MORE More than 1,600 local residents have signed an online petition calling for safety nets to be installed on the Piscataqua River Bridge. "In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the threat of suicide is painfully real. The Piscataqua River Bridge offers a tempting means for individuals considering suicide," organizers wrote in the petition. That petition was created on May 12, shortly after a minor — later revealed to be a Sanford High School student — jumped to his death. Police pulled his body from the water around 6 a.m. that morning, about nine hours after his empty car was found on the bridge. Friends, family and classmates gathered on Wells Beach Wednesday for a vigil honoring Jonathan "Jony" Hunter, a 16-year-old football player, Seacoastonline reported. There, his loved ones said there had been few to no warning signs that the teenager, known for his big heart, had been struggling. Hunter's death came less than two weeks after an earlier pair of suicides that took place April 30. New Hampshire State Police responded to a call of a stopped car in the Piscataqua River Bridge's northbound breakdown lane and determined that an unidentified man had jumped to his death, the department said in a written release. A few hours later, police in Portsmouth got a report of a missing person. The next morning, officers learned that a person matching that description had jumped from the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, the local department said. Tyler Dumont, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Safety, said the state police are "working closely" with partner groups to create additional suicide prevention methods, and he urged anyone struggling with thoughts of self-harm to call the crisis lifeline at 988. "The Department remains committed to doing all we can to reduce suicide risks and promote safety for everyone in our state," Dumont said in a written statement. ------ IF YOU NEED HELP IF YOU or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 911. FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at FOR MORE SUPPORT, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email helpline@ OTHER Maine resources for mental health, substance use disorder and other issues can be found by calling 211. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lane closures coming next week at Bedford tolls
Starting Monday, construction crews will begin work on the project to tear down the Bedford tolls on the F.E. Everett turnpike and replace the entire plaza with overhead E-ZPass sensors so drivers can eventually pass through without stopping. Commuters will face lane closures as crews work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials said in a news release. The first phase of the construction is expected to last through June 15 and is part of a larger widening project for the turnpike. Construction workers will widen the northbound and southbound lanes temporarily just north of the tollbooths to shift traffic outside of the roadway. With traffic diverted, crews will begin construction on permanent drainage, the barrier, pavement and the concrete roadway where the sensors will be. The overhead E-ZPass toll sensors will be in place before the plaza is completely removed, officials said. The $16 million project will convert the traditional tollbooths into all-electronic tolling. R.S. Audley of Bow is the contracted construction company for the project, which is expected to be done in the fall of 2027. For more information and to sign up for free text or email updates on New Hampshire highway traffic, visit dpierce@
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
No-stop Hooksett tolls on I-93 to close for two months
Mar. 18—If you're used to driving through the Hooksett tolls on Interstate 93 without stopping, well, get used to stopping for the next two months. From April 1 to around Memorial Day, all four lanes of open-road tolls — two each on I-93 north and south — will be closed at the Hooksett Toll Plaza, state officials announced Tuesday. All drivers will funnel through the six traditional cash and E-ZPass toll booths on each side of the highway instead. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will replace all of the equipment used to capture E-ZPass transponder signals from overhead and automatically charge motorists on their way through. The project is expected to be completed before Memorial Day, officials said in a news release. The E-ZPass system uses sensors, cameras, computer servers and software to collect and process each transaction. The system was installed in 2013. "Travelers should slow down, obey all posted signs and focus on driving," officials said. Drivers can check traffic conditions by visiting before heading out. dpierce@
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine Turnpike Authority names new executive director
Mar. 14—The deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation is on track to become executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority. The authority's board of directors voted unanimously Friday afternoon to appoint Andre Briere to the position Peter Mills held for 13 years before he retired last fall. The board voted 6-0. A retired career military officer, Briere has been deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire department since August 2021. His appointment to head the Maine Turnpike Authority is subject to legislative approval. Briere's nomination comes at a challenging time for the authority. After more than a year of controversy over the proposed Gorham Connector, the Maine Department of Transportation recently assumed responsibility for the search for alternative solutions to commuter traffic congestion west of Portland. The MTA board sought a candidate with strong leadership skills, a strategic vision and a deep understanding of transportation and infrastructure management, said Chair Michael Cianchette. "Andre's extensive experience in both public service and private industry, combined with his leadership acumen, make him the right choice to guide the Maine Turnpike Authority into the future," Cianchette said in an emailed statement. The board interviewed 10 or 11 of the more than 30 applicants for the position, Cianchette said. Briere was one of three finalists. He is a 29-year Air Force veteran who retired as a colonel in 2019 with a breadth of experience in aviation, transportation, logistics, emergency management and large-scale project leadership. An Air Force Academy graduate, his military career included serving as defense attaché to the Russian Federation, representing the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is an Air Force Command pilot, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and national executive emergency manager certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He also has held executive positions in the private sector. Briere oversaw statewide infrastructure programs at NHDOT, where his last day will be March 28. The Legislature's transportation committee will hold a public hearing on Briere's nomination to the MTA in the coming weeks, to be followed by a Senate vote. If confirmed, Briere will become executive director upon taking the oath of office. Briere's annual salary will be $216,000, Cianchette said, in line with other top public sector executives in Maine. He will be moving to Maine from Concord, New Hampshire, with a $10,000 relocation stipend from the authority. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Planes Break Record at Only Ice Runway in Contiguous US
Planes using a New Hampshire ice runway broke the record for the most landings in a season at the spot, which opens every winter in Alton Bay. Footage captured by Rob Wright shows planes taking off and landing at the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway, which local news outlet WMTW reported is the only 'Federal Aviation Administration-approved registered ice runway in the contiguous United States.' In a Facebook post, officials from the airbase said 88 planes landed on Saturday, February 22, bringing the total landings for the season to 730, which broke the previous season record, set in 2019, of 643 landings. Runway officials noted that there were 'several instances of aircraft with differential brake steering that could not steer on the ice and had to be walked by ground crew.' Near the end of the video, a plane can also be seen sliding across the ice and receiving assistance from crew. According to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), the airport is run by a 'dedicated group of volunteers who assist pilots (seaplane, ski, and conventional) flying into the bay throughout the year and who also plow the ice runway, parallel taxiway, and parking area.' 'The ice runway attracts several hundred pilots during its 4-8 week season and it can be one of the busiest airports in the state on winter weekends,' the NHDOT said on their website. The runway is open when the ice on Alton Bay is at least 12 inches thick, according to the FAA. Credit: Rob Wright via Storyful
