Editing Interstate 93 (section)

==Future expansion==

===Massachusetts plans===
Since 1996, the [[Massachusetts Highway Department]] (MassHighway) has studied rebuilding the interchange of I-93 and I-95 in [[Woburn, Massachusetts|Woburn]] along the border with [[Stoneham, Massachusetts|Stoneham]] and [[Reading, Massachusetts|Reading]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.9395info.com/overview.asp |title = I-93\I-95 Interchange Transportation Study |access-date = October 4, 2014 |archive-date = February 27, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090227132919/http://www.9395info.com/overview.asp |url-status = dead }}</ref> The project was expected to start in early 2017 and cost $267&nbsp;million but continued community opposition has postponed the project indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web |title = Woburn–Reading–Stoneham–Wakefield– Interchange Improvements to I-93/I-95 |url = http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=605605 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130616015526/http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo/Main.asp?ACTION=ViewProject&PROJECT_NO=605605 |archive-date = June 16, 2013 }}</ref> A project to upgrade the interchange of I-93 and I-95 in [[Canton, Massachusetts|Canton]] is also proposed.

An additional 2010 proposal to upgrade [[Massachusetts Route 24|Route&nbsp;24]], running southwards from I-93 exit&nbsp;4 in [[Randolph, Massachusetts|Randolph]] to [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|I-195]] near [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]], has also been put off due to studies showing the cost of the project being very high.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

MassDOT and its predecessor MassHighway have planned on widening I-93 to a uniform four travel lanes in both directions from the lane drop near exit&nbsp;35 (formerly 41) in [[Wilmington, Massachusetts|Wilmington]] to the New Hampshire border since the beginning of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://andoverma.gov/planning/i93/ |title = I-93/Lowell Junction Development Area Background |access-date = October 4, 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140702060912/http://andoverma.gov/planning/i93/ |archive-date = July 2, 2014 }}</ref> The first section of widening will be done as part of the I-93 Tri-Town Interchange Project. The project will construct a new interchange in Wilmington. I-93 will be widened from three to four lanes in each direction from exit&nbsp;35 (formerly 41) to I-495, a distance of approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0}}, as the first phase in widening I-93 from exit&nbsp;35 (formerly 41) to the New Hampshire state line. Early estimates of the entire project place the cost at $567&nbsp;million.<ref name="br-anderson">{{cite web |last = Anderson |first = Steve |title = Northern Expressway |url = http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/northern/ |work = BostonRoads.com |access-date = May 22, 2010 }}{{self-published inline|certain=yes|date=May 2022}}</ref>

===New Hampshire plans===
Initial plans to widen I-93 to a uniform four travel lanes in both directions from [[Salem, New Hampshire|Salem]] to [[Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester]] beginning in 2008 were put on hold due to a lawsuit designed to force the [[New Hampshire Department of Transportation]] (NHDOT) to update the plans to include other transportation options. Under orders from the US District Court, NHDOT and the [[US Department of Transportation]] (USDOT) were required to provide an updated environmental review. The [[Conservation Law Foundation]] (CLF) filed a lawsuit in February 2006, hoping to force any expansion plans in the area to include the restoration of [[commuter rail]] service between Manchester and Boston.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/08/31/i_93_widening_in_nh_set_back/ |title = I-93 widening in N.H. set back |author = James Vaznis |work = The Boston Globe |date = August 31, 2007 |access-date = October 14, 2007 }}</ref> Despite the suit, the exit&nbsp;1 interchange construction was allowed to undergo upgrading and expansion; other associated projects related to the widening, chiefly around exits&nbsp;3 and 5, were also eventually allowed to proceed. The whole set of projects were eventually allowed to move forward following an agreement between the state and the CLF that removed the group's opposition to construction which does not pose a threat to the environment.<ref name="monitor">{{cite news <!-- |url = http://www.theconcordinsider.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080824/FRONTPAGE/808240337&template=single --> |title = I-93 projects move forward, not sideways <!-- |access-date = September 13, 2008 --> |author = Davidson, Kate |newspaper = Concord Monitor |date = August 24, 2008 }}</ref>

As part of the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|2009 stimulus package]], New Hampshire was set to receive several million dollars in highway construction funds. One of the projects was the widening of a portion of I-93 between the Massachusetts border and Manchester. Bidding was set to begin in February 2009, with construction slated to begin in late 2009 or early 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29249554/ |title = NH hustles for its slice of stimulus pie |author = John Distaso |work = [[New Hampshire Union Leader]] |publisher = [[MSNBC]] |date = February 18, 2009 |access-date = February 20, 2009 |quote = The biggest project on its list, the $31 million widening of Interstate 93 from Salem to Manchester, will be advertised on Feb. 24, Jannelle said. |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090220093609/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29249554/ |archive-date = February 20, 2009 }}</ref> The plans called for NHDOT to widen the southernmost {{convert|20|mi|km}} of I-93 to four lanes in each direction, from the existing two lanes in each direction. In addition, all five interchanges along this length would be upgraded to accommodate larger amounts of traffic, including the replacement of many aging bridges.<ref name="monitor" /> According to plans filed by the state with USDOT, the project was scheduled to run from 2009 through 2016, with work starting at the Massachusetts line and moving northward to Manchester. The project was designed with an intermodal transit bent; new or improved [[park and ride]] facilities were deployed at exits&nbsp;1, 3, and 5, and a widened median strip was designed to accommodate a planned commuter rail service between Boston and Manchester.<ref name="nhdot-background">{{cite web |url = http://www.rebuildingi93.com/content/background/ |title = Rebuilding 93:Salem to Manchester – Project background |last = New Hampshire Department of Transportation |publisher = New Hampshire Department of Transportation DOT |access-date = August 23, 2009 |archive-date = August 29, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090829192049/http://www.rebuildingi93.com/content/background/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> As a way to help defray the costs of the expansion, in early 2010, NHDOT made a formal request to the [[Federal Highway Administration]] to add tolls to I-93 at the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border. The new toll facility was to be located in Salem, approximately {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1}} north of the state line, and would cost travelers $2.00&nbsp;per vehicle. The proposal faced opposition from state legislators in both states, who claimed the tolls would cause severe congestion in the area and lead to an economic burden to local residents. Opponents included US senator [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]].<ref name="et-date">{{cite news |last = Date |first = Terry |title = NH, Massachusetts lawmakers speak against I-93 toll |url = http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x1720285446/NH-Massachusetts-lawmakers-speak-against-I-93-toll?keyword=secondarystory |access-date = May 22, 2010 |newspaper = [[Eagle-Tribune]] |date = February 23, 2010 }}</ref> The proposal was eventually dropped in favor of issuing new state bonds to pay for expansion. The new policy was laid out by Transportation Commissioner George Campbell after reviewing the proposal and receiving a promise from the [[Massachusetts Department of Transportation]] that it would not be enacting a similar toll on the Massachusetts side of the border.<ref name="nt-kl">{{cite news |last = Landrigan |first = Kevin |title = Tolls nixed to pay for I-93 widening |url = http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/statenewengland/679077-227/tolls-nixed-to-pay-for-i-93-widening.html |access-date = May 22, 2010 |newspaper = [[Nashua Telegraph]] |date = March 20, 2010 }}</ref>

Plans were announced in 2012 that I-93 would receive new northbound and southbound bridges over [[I-89]] in [[Bow, New Hampshire|Bow]]. To reduce traffic on the southbound bridge, NHDOT added a third lane to ease congestion. The bridges were completed in 2014.

More plans were announced in 2014 that the [[Hooksett]] [[rest area]]s would be rebuilt. The new rest areas feature a 14-pump [[Irving Oil]] gas station, a new [[New Hampshire Liquor Commission|New Hampshire liquor and wine]] outlet, and a few restaurants and shops. The project was completed in 2015.

In [[Londonderry, New Hampshire|Londonderry]], a new interchange on I-93 connecting to the adjacent town of [[Derry, New Hampshire|Derry]] were in final planning stages as of June 2020. Construction of exit&nbsp;4A, to be located approximately {{One2a|{{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}}}} north of exit&nbsp;4 in Londonderry, began in 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2024. The interchange is part of a larger series of road improvements expected to be completed in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.i93exit4a.com/ |title = I93 Exit 4A Project |last = New Hampshire Department of Transportation |publisher = New Hampshire Department of Transportation |access-date = June 24, 2020 }}</ref>