[mcdude]

From the Laconia Sun

Preliminary roundabout work begins at 'Malfunction Junction'

By Gail Ober
Mar 23, 2012 12:00 am


LACONIA - Construction has begin on the new Weirs roundabout at the northern end of Weirs Blvd. — known in common parlance as the "Malfunction Junction".
The winning bidder for the project is Busby Construction who, according to the N.H. Department of Transportation Website, bid $908,555 to reconfigure the intersection of U.S. Route 3 and N.H. Route 11-B.
Earlier this year, the City Council authorized the application of $120,000 of general obligation bonds issued in 2009 to finance capital improvements toward the project along with $20,00 from the contingency account to fund the city’s 10-percent of the project that, at the time, was estimated would cost about $1.4-million.
City Planner Shanna Saunders said yesterday that Busby has made arrangements with Brandi Baldi to use the parking lot area behind the closed Wide Open Saloon as a staging area and it is that action that accounts for the activity some have reported at the rear (motel end) of the property.
She said the initial phase will involve utility work and, from what she understands, there will be no significant alterations in traffic patterns until May 21 when the first of two planned detours will go into effect.
She said the plans are to continue to project until annual Motorcycle Week begins on June 9, when she expects major construction to halt until Labor Day and the end of the height of the summer season.
Saunders said there is no reason to avoid the intersection and that the construction will be designed to create as minimal of an inconvenience as possible.