Traffic Backups Continue Around I-89, I-91 Exchange as Construction Nears Completion
By Adam Sullivan | Published: Oct. 21, 2026 at 9:39 PM GMT+2
West Lebanon, NH (WCAX) — Traffic backups continue around the I-89 bridge over the Connecticut River and nearby interstates as a $44 million construction project nears completion.
Every day, upwards of 20,000 vehicles cross over the I-89 bridge... in each direction. And lately, those commuters have faced bumper-to-bumper northbound traffic, with the bridge to Vermont reduced to one lane. That tie-up has a ripple effect.
"Terrible, terrible," said James Fickett, who does his shopping in West Lebanon’s always-busy 12A shopping corridor. "What’s usually a 15-minute ride up to Hanover from here took me two hours yesterday... It was horrible."
It’s not just the bridge that’s backed up. Even at midday, the on-ramp traffic to I-89 on Wednesday was packed. A closure was also scheduled for Wednesday at the I-91 northbound on-ramp.
"The bridge superstructure needed to be rehabilitated," said Andy Silovich with the N.H. Dept. of Transportation. The $44 million project includes safer merge lanes at the I-89 and I-91 exchange.
It’s currently in the paving stage, which is almost done. Crews are out during the day because officials say paving at night with cold temperatures is not ideal. "Typically, any kind of work at night takes longer, so it would add more nights. But the biggest thing right now is just the temperature," Silovich said.
Drivers trying to avoid the interstates altogether are running into other problems because of a South Main Street bridge being out. The detours around it are also seeing lines of cars.
"It looks like urban traffic," said Robert Mulzac, who is taking it all in stride as he gets in one more ride on his motorcycle. "I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York. I’ve been up in this area now 20 years."
New Hampshire DOT is hoping to have the project completely wrapped up by mid-to-late November.