The replacement of the Neil R. Underwood Bridge is a major infrastructure project aimed at improving transportation and navigation along NH 1A in Hampton, New Hampshire. The existing bridge, constructed in 1949, is listed on the State Red List due to structural deficiencies. The new bridge will enhance roadway capacity, improve access for bicyclists and pedestrians, and provide greater clearance for maritime traffic.

On January 18, 2024, a public bid was held for the construction contract, and on March 13, 2024, SPS New England Inc. was awarded the project with a low bid of $107,559,567.35. The construction phase officially began on May 16, 2024, under the administration of the NHDOT Bureau of Construction, led by DCE Paul Metcalf Jr., with civil engineers Denis Switzer and Zach Smith, and engineering technician Kurt Robbins overseeing progress.

The new bridge will be a fixed high-level steel girder structure situated west of the existing bridge on a horizontally curved alignment. It will span 1,300 feet with seven spans and feature a wider roadway—38 feet between curbs, including two 11-foot travel lanes and 8-foot shoulders. The bridge will also incorporate two 6-foot sidewalks with designated overlooks, enhancing pedestrian access. Importantly, it will maintain the full 150-foot-wide federal navigational channel with a vertical under-clearance of approximately 48 feet, allowing unhindered passage for all regular maritime users, including dredging equipment from the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Beyond the bridge itself, the project includes full reconstruction of NH 1A’s approach roadways. A pedestrian walkway will be built beneath the bridge’s north span to connect Hampton Beach State Park to the Hampton State Pier property. Throughout the construction period, traffic management plans will ensure that both vehicular and pedestrian access remain operational on either the existing or proposed bridge. Waterway traffic will continue within the federal navigational channel, with the existing bascule bridge operating normally until it is ultimately demolished upon completion of the new structure.

This project represents a vital investment in the region’s infrastructure, ensuring safer and more efficient transportation for both land and waterway users.