By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

With a host of large-scale residential and commercial developments that could greatly affect Route 3 pending, and several local and state efforts to rectify town's traffic woes, planning experts are circumspect as to the future of the already congested corridor.

"Do we have congestion on Route 3 right now? Yes," said Hooksett Town Planner Charles Watson. "Will we have congestion there in the future? I don't know."

While already mired in construction, Route 3 will likely see a dramatic increase in traffic over the next several years.

Watson cited several multiphase residential development plans that would affect the road, including a project from Granite Hill to expand by 372 units, and a 400-unit housing project in the University Heights area. Also in the works is the Head's Pond project, which would add 650 housing units.

These three projects would contribute to increase the number of housing units in Hooksett from about 4,300, as counted in the 2000 census, to about 6,000 within 10 to 15 years, according to the town's master plan. Add to that about 100 new building permits that are issued annually.

On top of residential development, Watson said, may be commercial development, including a project led by Manchester Sand & Gravel to build a 275,000- to 300,000-square-foot retail center across from Hooksett Kawasaki, and a plan by private developers to construct about 80,000 feet of retail space just south of the 28 Bypass.

"All those projects empty into Route 3," said Watson.

Hooksett Planning Board Chairman Richard Marshall said new commuters wouldn't bear the brunt of responsibility for potential traffic flow problems.

"Most of the traffic situations on Route 3 are going to be caused by commercial and industrial development," he said. "Usually housing developments don't have as much of an impact."

Though the corridor can expect more traffic, Watson cited several state efforts - including potential widening of Route 3 near the Route 28 Bypass, and the long-discussed connector road that would link Route 3 with the village - that may serve to alleviate some congestion.

While construction on the connector road may begin within the next several months, the impacts, said Watson, are unknown.

"A lot of this is very difficult to crystal ball," he said.

Marshall, who has been active in municipal planning for more than 30 years, said the planning board has little control over what happens to the state highway.

"Part of the problem is we have no direct control, so we're at the mercy of the state of New Hampshire," he said.

For years, the town has been working with Manchester Sand & Gravel to conceptualize a bypass parkway which would extend from I-93's Exit 9 all the way up to the Daniel Webster Highway near Head's Pond, thereby providing significant relief to Route 3.

Some uncertainty there arises as Manchester Sand & Gravel owns 22 to 23 percent of the land area in town, "and they're going to develop it all in some positive, moneymaking way at some point," Watson said.

Both Watson and Marshall agreed that the parkway project, scheduled to be completed in phases, will ultimately likely depend jointly on funds provided by developers and money raised from taxes.

Marshall said of the latter, "So far we haven't done very well in that respect."