Stimulus Paving hits New Hampshire

[Fred W]

So as many of you may already have noticed, there sure are a lot of paving projects going on around New England. And lots of them have those green signs posted somewhere along the way, indicating the project is part of the ongoing Economic Stimulus.

Let's leave out all the political commentary about the plan and just agree that fresh pavement on a lot of our weather beaten roads is a very good thing for motorcyclists. Some of the roads that I found with fresh pavement on today's ride included Rte 202 from Northwood all the way to Rochester, parts of Rte 153 in the Effingham / Freedom areas and Rte 302 up through Crawford notch, even though that was some pretty good road before.

But the super-exciting surprise was: Freshie on Bear Notch Road from end to end!! :yahoo:

I highly recommend you all get a chance to ride it before they close it down for winter. We were able to run it at ~50 mph all the way through today and somehow we didn't get behind a single car (that was just dumb luck).

 

[dcarver]

Lots of new asphalt on the left coast too. Many sections of 58 East of Creston are fresh and beautiful riding.

You right coast riders need to get riding before the season winds down, just sayin'...

 

[cota95]

Bear Notch Road re-surfaced...have to get up there to try it out before the snow flies...

 

[Toecutter]

Let's leave out all the political commentary about the plan and just agree that fresh pavement on a lot of our weather beaten roads is a very good thing for motorcyclists.

I got some good news from Big Government the other day. A letter from a credit card company that basically said they're going to stop sodomizing their customers and play fair from now on. I know they didn't just wake up one morning and decide to do that on their own.

In order to keep this within forum tolerance, I'll add that I've been praying for this outcome....

 

[Bustanut joker]

You right coast riders need to get riding before the season winds down, just sayin'...

Hey Don....

:****:

:jester:

 

[road runner]

Hey Fred

That section of Rt 30 that was being paved last year is swwwwwweet now :yahoo: . Pete and I rode it last Saturday and it is pretty awsome now.

 

[Fred W]

Hey Art,

Yeah we rode on part of Rt 30 this past summer on our family vacation trip down to West Virginni, since we spent our 1st night in Albany at the kids' place. I guess that technically that was a pre-stimulus project, but they sure did a very nice job at it. :thumbsup:

There are a lot of really nice roads in the Catskills area, with big sweeping turns and nice vistas and decent road surfaces. Now, how are things coming along further north by you? The 'Daks always seemed to be pretty well heaved up and frost damaged whenever I've driven up that way, similar to the New Hampshire north country roads. Are they feelin' the stimulus love now?

 

[ALDAWG]

So as many of you may already have noticed, there sure are a lot of paving projects going on around New England. And lots of them have those green signs posted somewhere along the way, indicating the project is part of the ongoing Economic Stimulus.
Let's leave out all the political commentary about the plan and just agree that fresh pavement on a lot of our weather beaten roads is a very good thing for motorcyclists. Some of the roads that I found with fresh pavement on today's ride included Rte 202 from Northwood all the way to Rochester, parts of Rte 153 in the Effingham / Freedom areas and Rte 302 up through Crawford notch, even though that was some pretty good road before.

But the super-exciting surprise was: Freshie on Bear Notch Road from end to end!! :yahoo:

I highly recommend you all get a chance to ride it before they close it down for winter. We were able to run it at ~50 mph all the way through today and somehow we didn't get behind a single car (that was just dumb luck).

Wwwwhat? Thats a great road, last time I rode it was this past summer, and it needed it badly...Hhhhhhmmmmmm.......Covered bridge ride, or freshly paved Mt. Washington area roads. Fred you're making this difficult for me, gonna have to check my work schedule, might have to stay an extra day! :yahoo:

 

[Fred W]

Dawg,

You are right, it was badly in need of the repair. When we took the Whites/Greens ride through in August it was pretty hard to pick a good line. But being a seasonal road, albeit a superior "shortcut" to the northern Mts while avoiding Factory Outlet Hell (aka North Conway), I just assumed they intentionally kept it ratty. Not so anymore.

However, the road was only resurfaced. I'm 100% certain they didn't dig down and redo the road bed, so the upcoming winter frost will undoubtedly heave it up in some places again. Hence the urgency to ride it before they close the gates.

The bridges ride will be ending near Concord, so it isn't that big a deal to jaunt over toward the Kank the next day. C'mon... you know you want to.

 

[ALDAWG]

Fred, we are camping at Greenfield. If timing and recources had been different, I would have made accomadations in Gorham, the second night (and possibly 3rd), for a truely great ride through the mountains. But considering circumstances, and time, I don't think it will work out. It's really to bad cuz like you said these roads should be ridden on before winter. You are lucky, color me jealous. :fans: ..Perhaps they will still be in good condition this spring..

 

[road runner]

Hey Art,
Yeah we rode on part of Rt 30 this past summer on our family vacation trip down to West Virginni, since we spent our 1st night in Albany at the kids' place. I guess that technically that was a pre-stimulus project, but they sure did a very nice job at it. :thumbsup:

There are a lot of really nice roads in the Catskills area, with big sweeping turns and nice vistas and decent road surfaces. Now, how are things coming along further north by you? The 'Daks always seemed to be pretty well heaved up and frost damaged whenever I've driven up that way, similar to the New Hampshire north country roads. Are they feelin' the stimulus love now?

Not sure about the Dacks,because I've only riden back and forth to work. Pete and I were going to ride north from here today, but the whether is not cooperating. We are thinking of maybe doing a 2 day ride around the state (NY) before winter if all works out. It's going to be about 1200 miles. We'll see.

 

[TCMike]

Lots of projects here in MN too. It's a pain in the arse while they are doing it, but some of the roads desperately needed it. :clapping:

 

[bluejag]

Hey Fred we went thru Bear Notch too around noon (FZ6,FJR,Warrior) did'nt have your luck! spots of slow and big trucks comming north, great ride day, Hope we have more!! :yahoo:

 

[Canadian FJR]

Did Bear Notch several times on Friday................fresh pavement and very little traffic. That road rocks.

Canadian FJR

 

[Iris]

Did Bear Notch several times on Friday................fresh pavement and very little traffic. That road rocks.Canadian FJR

Where exactly is Bear Notch? I probably have been on it, I'm just not sure.

-Iris

 

[Charlie Hoss]

Did Bear Notch several times on Friday................fresh pavement and very little traffic. That road rocks.Canadian FJR

Where exactly is Bear Notch? I probably have been on it, I'm just not sure.

-Iris

From Lincoln, NH, it's about 2/3 the way over to Conway. It runs from the Kancamangas over to Bartlett.

 

[Fred W]

Where exactly is Bear Notch? I probably have been on it, I'm just not sure.

You might not have, Iris, unless someone sent you up there. The GPS and mapping programs almost never send you up there because it is a seasonal road. As Charlie said, it connects the Kank (Rte 112) in Passaconaway with Rt 302 in Bartlett.

Voila!

As you can see, it is a nice way to avoid going through Conway and North Conway when heading north through either Pinkham (Rt 16) or Crawford (Rt 302) notches. It's also a cool little bit of road in it's own right with a couple of scenic vista turn-outs.

 

[Iris]

Thanks! I'm gonna hafta get out there and ride this one!