A hearing was held Thursday at the State House in Concord on a proposal, known as HB 1369, that would relocate the Bedford toll booth 5 miles south into Merrimack, doing away with two 50-cent off ramps that have rankled residents there for years. That’s the good news. The bad news, according to opponents of the bill, is that the move will double the amount residents pay.
To improve the chance of seeing your comment posted here or published in the New Hampshire Union Leader:
Note: Comments are the opinion of the respective poster and not of the publisher.
Ross Marple said:
And the money grabbing Democrats are at it again. Let's move a virtually new Toll plaza BACK to where it was !!!! Let's spend dollars to get quarters. The airport is a money maker/generator. The easier and cheaper it is to access than other airports, the more money it will generate. We live in a wasteful 60 second society. Few will spend 10 minutes to save a dollar. There hasn't been a major increase in traffic on Brown Ave. and if there has been any increase at all, I'm sure the business' are liking it. Hopefully she'll pull the bill. If not, may it get ITL'd
(Report Abuse)
Peter Sorrentino said:
For over twenty years, I have lived in Manchester and still have not figured out what it is about this state's DOT that requires tollbooths at every possible point in Merrimack. Merrimack folks cannot get on the highway or off the highway without paying. Anyone driving by Merrimack must pay to pass by, at the tolls in "Bedford" and if they want to make a stop in Merrimack they get to pay again for the privilege. If I live in Concord I can drive to Canada through Pittsburgh, Vermont up 89, Hampton via rt. 4 all without paying a toll. I live in Manchester and I can get to Vermont and Hampton via 101 and Massachusetts via 93 without paying a toll. If you live in Merrimack you will pay a toll to go anywhere. Heck, if you lived in Central Merrimack and wanted to drive to south Merrimack to visit their mother, you will pay a toll. It is ridiculous. Did the guy who first started the DOT get dumped by a Merrimack girl when he was in high school? Did someone from Merrimack hit head of the DOT’s dog? Exactly what caused this DOT fixation of extracting every possible quarter from Merrimack residents?
(Report Abuse)
Ron Remillard said:
Peter, you need to get out more. If you live in Manchester as you claim you will certainly pay a toll on RT 93 before you get to RT 89 which will take you to VT.How about this, we enact legislation that insures every nickle of gas tax income goes specifically to the maintenance of state roads and we only allow toll booths on our incoming roads at the the border. Just a modest tariff of $1.00 for visitors (residents would be exempt) and then no more tolls. Those who travel far enough into our state will have to purchase fuel and will make their commensurate contribution to the upkeep of our roads.
(Report Abuse)
Howie Howe said:
@Peter Sorrentino - your claims are ludicrous at best - download a map of Merrimack and you will find that a majority of reisdents would have to go way out of thier way to use the Turnpike for anything. In fact many could get to Manchester easier by using Rt 101, or could get to Nashua using Rt 101A. Only those who live along the Route 3 Corridor, or just off one of the East West roads with exits like Bedford Rd, or Amherst Rd would find using the Turnpike convenient for anything. The only reason for any Merrimack resident to deisre to use the Turnpike is to do 65 MPH, and not care about backtracking because most of the exits are not convenient to most places anyone would want to go.Home Depot Merrimack and all the good shopping for the area is on Rt 101A (Amherst St), at the Merrimackl/Nashua border, as is the Walmart Supercenter in Amherst, all easily accessible from Continental Blvd, or going down either Naticook or Peasley Rd to get there.
(Report Abuse)
Roy Hinkley said:
The icing on the cake will be when only the Exit 11 booths come down and the new plaza is built North of that interchange. You think some Merrimack residents are frustrated now...wait till they see the hoards of Mass plates coming and going to the new Outlet Mall and not paying any toll. (laughing like everyone who gets a free ride between Salem and Hooksett)
(Report Abuse)
kevin croteau said:
Lets just do a toll booth at both sites, The reason Merrimack has a pay to get on and off is because no one likes Merrimack. They are a bunch of wieners and cry babies. If you are not happy with what you have, change it. Don't cry about it. All you people think that life is free. Its not free, you have to pay for what you use in life and that includes the road system. If you use it you pay for it. So all you cry babies dig into your pockets and drop some quarters and pay for what you use. Or get off and get out and go to some third world county that does not care. I am sick and tired of people thinking that they should have things for free.
(Report Abuse)
You must sign in before you can post comments. If you are experiencing issues with your account please e-mail abuse@unionleader.com.