Henry Law Avenue and Payne Street Improvements

The City of Dover has contracted with Northeast Earth Mechanics, LLC, for the reconstruction of Henry Law Avenue, Payne Street and lower Henry Law Park. Work is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2026 with final completion targeted for spring of 2029. The section of Henry Law Avenue that will be reconstructed is from Washington Street to Payne Street.

The project consists of constructing:

• New storm drainage pipe, structures, and underground stormwater management system
• Sanitary sewer reconstruction and rehabilitation and temporary bypass system
• Surface restoration of affected areas including mill/overlay and full width roadway
  reconstruction, sidewalk construction and curbing installation
• Coordination with private utilities
• All appurtenant work as shown and described in the contract documents.

The City Council awarded the construction bid at its May 13, 2026 meeting for $12,836,872.50. The project will utilize $3,500,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and $800,000 from Congressional Directed Spending. 

Neighborhood Meeting Summer 2026 – TBD

The contractor will hold a public preconstruction meeting during the summer of 2026. No date has been set, but targeted for mid to late July. 

The project will create disruptions in the downtown area. Lower Henry Law Park will be closed during construction. There will also be parking restrictions and road closures. The Dover Indoor Pool and Adventure Playground will remain open. 

Staff from the city, the contractor and the design consultant, Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., will be on hand to discuss the project and its need and answer questions. 

This project will incorporate the elements and principles laid out in the City of Dover Complete Streets & Traffic Calming Guidelines to ensure the design of streets and sidewalks will be safe and accessible for all users regardless of age, physical ability or mode of transport. The design is to also incorporate innovative and easily maintainable low impact development stormwater management practices as part of the roadway improvements where feasible. A metes and bound survey of Henry Law Avenue and River Street was also requested to the extent of this project.

This project has some overlap with the waterfront development project on River Street. Kleinfelder is collaborating with Horsley Witten Group, Inc., of Sandwich, Massachusetts, which is overseeing public improvements as it relates to the waterfront project. The collaboration should ensure project designs remain consistent with one another avoid conflicts during construction.

Project design elements:

• Street improvements on Henry Law Avenue from Washington Street to Payne Street, and Payne Street from Henry Law Avenue to approximately the location of the former skate park. The planned work includes sidewalk replacement, full street reconstruction, and a roundabout at the intersection of Henry Law and George Street;
• Drainage improvements throughout the project area, including a subsurface stormwater best management practice (BMP) in Henry Law Park; the BMP design is federally funded, and Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., has partnered with the UNH Stormwater Center to create innovative design to for stormwater treatment, flood resiliency, and improve water quality in the Cochecho River and the Great Bay;
• Water main replacement on the River Street portion of the project. Sewer repair or replacement per CCTV inspection. Retaining wall repair or replacement along Payne Street per structural assessment.