Bedford council OKs DOT agreement and $400,000 engineering authorization for Nashua Road crossing
January 21, 2026 | Bedford Town Council, Bedford, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
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The Bedford Town Council on Jan. 21 approved an agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and authorized a design contract with Hoyle Tanner to move forward on reconstruction of the Riddle Brook crossing on Nashua Road.
Brian DeFosse, the town’s director of public works, told the council the existing stone box culvert is narrow, has substantial vertical clearance but functions as a debris catch, and partially failed during heavy floods in 2008. DeFosse said DOT added the project to its 10-year plan, enabling the state to fund roughly 80% of the estimated $2,500,000 project while the town would cover the remaining $500,000.
"The entire cost of the structure is estimated at $2,500,000, of which $2,000,000 will be DOT funded and a half million dollars will be funded by the DPW using local roads funding," DeFosse said.
Councilors asked how engineering costs would be handled and whether the town would be reimbursed under the 80/20 formula. DeFosse said the town typically fronts design and permitting costs and then seeks DOT reimbursement after DOT acceptance. He estimated about $400,000 for engineering and said the town has already identified $120,000 in 2025 local-roads funding and plans staged encumbrances across 2026–2028 to cover the town’s share.
Councilor Beck moved to authorize the town manager to enter an agreement with DOT making Bedford the project sponsor; Councilor Levesque seconded. The council approved the motion by roll call, 6–0.
A separate motion authorized the town manager to enter professional-service agreements with Hoyle Tanner allowing up to $400,000 in current and future local-roads funding to design, permit, bid and secure right-of-way for the project, and to seek DOT reimbursement for eligible costs (the town’s 20% share was noted as roughly $80,000 of the engineering budget). That motion also passed 6–0.
DeFosse said construction sequencing will require careful planning to limit impacts on nearby school traffic and that the town may need a future warrant article asking voters to authorize the local share once construction estimates are firm. He said engineering will seek the least impactful traffic solutions and that some work could be timed when school is not in session.
The council did not set a construction schedule at the meeting but approved the agreements needed to advance design and permitting.
Brian DeFosse, the town’s director of public works, told the council the existing stone box culvert is narrow, has substantial vertical clearance but functions as a debris catch, and partially failed during heavy floods in 2008. DeFosse said DOT added the project to its 10-year plan, enabling the state to fund roughly 80% of the estimated $2,500,000 project while the town would cover the remaining $500,000.
"The entire cost of the structure is estimated at $2,500,000, of which $2,000,000 will be DOT funded and a half million dollars will be funded by the DPW using local roads funding," DeFosse said.
Councilors asked how engineering costs would be handled and whether the town would be reimbursed under the 80/20 formula. DeFosse said the town typically fronts design and permitting costs and then seeks DOT reimbursement after DOT acceptance. He estimated about $400,000 for engineering and said the town has already identified $120,000 in 2025 local-roads funding and plans staged encumbrances across 2026–2028 to cover the town’s share.
Councilor Beck moved to authorize the town manager to enter an agreement with DOT making Bedford the project sponsor; Councilor Levesque seconded. The council approved the motion by roll call, 6–0.
A separate motion authorized the town manager to enter professional-service agreements with Hoyle Tanner allowing up to $400,000 in current and future local-roads funding to design, permit, bid and secure right-of-way for the project, and to seek DOT reimbursement for eligible costs (the town’s 20% share was noted as roughly $80,000 of the engineering budget). That motion also passed 6–0.
DeFosse said construction sequencing will require careful planning to limit impacts on nearby school traffic and that the town may need a future warrant article asking voters to authorize the local share once construction estimates are firm. He said engineering will seek the least impactful traffic solutions and that some work could be timed when school is not in session.
The council did not set a construction schedule at the meeting but approved the agreements needed to advance design and permitting.
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