North end: US 3 in Concord Length 49.91 km | North end: I‑93 in Plymouth | |
South end: Route 3A in Tyngsborough, MA Major
junctions: I‑293 / NH 101 in Manchester
US 3 in Manchester
I‑293 / Everett Turnpike in Manchester
I‑93 in Hooksett and Concord
I‑89 in Bow South end: US 3 / NH 11 / NH 127 in Franklin Major
junctions: US 3 / NH 25 in Plymouth Counties Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Grafton County, New Hampshire | ||
New Hampshire Route 3A is a designation held by two separate state highways in New Hampshire. The two segments, although not directly connected, are linked by U.S. Route 3, from which they derive their route number.
Contents
Map of NH-3A, New Hampshire, USA
Southern segment
The southern terminus of the 39.40-mile (63.41 km) long southern segment is at the Massachusetts state line in Hudson, where it continues as Massachusetts Route 3A. The northern terminus is in the city of Concord at US 3. This segment of NH 3A follows the Merrimack River for its entire length. The route begins in Hudson at the Massachusetts line. It shortly intersects with the eastern end of the Circumferential Highway (which provides access to US 3 and the Everett Turnpike). NH 3A passes through Hudson Village, the historic center of town, where it intersects with NH 111 just across the river from downtown Nashua. NH 102 begins at this intersection and is cosigned with NH 3A for its first mile, before splitting off northeast towards Londonderry. NH 3A continues along the eastern banks of the river, through Litchfield and into the city of Manchester, where it crosses under I-293/NH 101 and follows a short surface alignment in the southwest section of town. NH 3A intersects with US 3 and is actually cosigned with it (in a wrong-way concurrency on Queen City Ave across the river, where the two routes intersect NH 114A at its eastern terminus. At this point, NH 3A leaves US 3 and merges onto I-293 northbound (which also carries the Everett Turnpike) at exit 4. NH 3A is concurrent with I-293 for three miles, departing at exit 7 and crossing into Hooksett. The highway immediately interchanges with I-93 (which it parallels for the remainder of its length) near the northern terminus of I-293, and continues north (now paralleling on the west side of the river). Hackett Hill Road provides another access point to I-93, while nearby Main Street connects to US 3/NH 28 across the river. NH 3A enters Bow and meets the southern end of the I-89 freeway (another access point to I-93) before crossing into the city limits of Concord. The highway interchanges with I-93 one last time before ending at US 3 just south of downtown Concord.
Northern segment
The southern terminus of the 30.93-mile (49.78 km) long northern segment is in the city of Franklin at US 3, New Hampshire Route 11, and New Hampshire Route 127. The northern terminus is in the town of Plymouth at an interchange with Interstate 93, US 3 and New Hampshire Route 25.
History
From 1922 to 1926, Route 3A was part of the New England road marking system as New England Route 6A (NE-6A). In 1926, all roads designated as NE-6A were changed to New Hampshire Route 3A and Massachusetts Route 3A to accommodate the change of New England Route 6 to U.S. Route 3.
Southern segment
*The Everett Turnpike is unsigned along I-93 from the I-293 interchange to its northern terminus in Concord at exit 14