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Henry Law and Payne Street Reconstruction

At a Glance
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Ward 2, Ward 3
Infrastructure

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Work on Henry Law Avenue is taking a break for Apple Harvest Day on Saturday, Oct. 3. The new sewer line is complete, and drainage work will begin next week near the Dover Indoor Pool parking lot before moving toward Washington Street. The pool parking lot, pool and Children’s Museum remain open. Henry Law Avenue remains closed — likely through the end of the year — between Washington Street and the municipal parking lot.

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The City of Dover has contracted Northeast Earth Mechanics, LLC for a $12.8 million reconstruction of Henry Law Avenue, Payne Street, and lower Henry Law Park. Running from summer 2026 through spring 2029, this multi-phase project involves full roadway rebuilding, new sidewalks, underground utility updates, and park improvements.

Why it Matters

This project modernizes essential downtown infrastructure to make the area safer, cleaner, and more accessible. Specifically, the key benefits and local impacts include:

  • Safer Streets & Sidewalks: Rebuilding roads, constructing new sidewalks, installing curbing, and adding a new roundabout at George Street will slow traffic and improve access for pedestrians and drivers of all ages and abilities.

  • Cleaner Waterways: Installing innovative, underground soil-filtration stormwater systems and updating outfalls will help manage flooding while protecting water quality in the Cochecho River and Great Bay.

  • Upgraded Utilities: Rebuilding aging sewer and water mains, along with moving overhead power lines underground, increases system reliability and cleans up downtown sightlines.

  • Temporary Disruptions: Construction will require road closures, parking restrictions, and the temporary closure of lower Henry Law Park. However, the Dover Indoor Pool and Adventure Playground will remain open throughout the project.

 

The Big Picture

This major overhaul is timed to coordinate directly with nearby private developments, ensuring public and private work seamlessly align without causing repeated road tear-ups. By partnering with experts from the UNH Stormwater Center and adhering to the City of Dover’s Complete Streets & Traffic Calming Guidelines, the city is implementing long-term solutions for traffic flow and flood resilience. Additionally, the city secured substantial outside funding — including $3.5 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and $800,000 in Congressional Directed Spending — allowing Dover to execute these essential upgrades while reducing the overall cost burden on local taxpayers.

Take Action

Residents and business owners are encouraged to stay informed and reach out with questions:

  • Email Updates: Subscribe to the City of Dover’s email list for the project. Sign up for regular progress and traffic alerts by selecting “Project update: Henry Law Avenue and Payne Street Improvements”.
  • Contact Project Staff: Direct questions to Project Manager Jamie Stevens or City Engineer Jillian Semprini by calling the Community Services department at 603-516-6450.

Go Deeper

In addition to signing up for related emails (above), you can visit the Henry Law and Payne Street Improvements project page for for information, images, and documents.