New Hampshire roads will be a bit more crowded than usual this weekend because of the NASCAR World Cup Series Race in Loudon, and state safety officials are implementing traffic control measures to accommodate the more than 42,000 people expected to stream into the state.
The traffic control plan Saturday and Sunday focuses on Interstate 93, Route 106, and the I-393 corridor.
Motorists can expect a few temporary detours on Route 106 and off-ramp closures on I-93. Peak traffic congestion is anticipated in the late afternoon and evening hours.
The NASCAR Cup Series race starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, but there is additional racing and practice on Saturday. It is New England’s only NASCAR Cup Series weekend, and it features a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finale on Saturday.
According to the state’s traffic control plan, which was crafted by the Department of Transportation with local and state law enforcement, more than 15,000 vehicles are expected to travel to the speedway this weekend.
The plan in full:
I-93 Corridor
- The I-393 eastbound off ramp to I-93 south will be closed from approximately 3:15 pm to 9 p.m. Sunday. Motorists attempting to use the ramp will be diverted to Stickney Avenue in Concord, from which they can access I-93 south at Exit 14.
- The I-93 Exit 14 southbound off-ramp to Loudon Road and the I-93 Exit 15E southbound off-ramp to I-393 eastbound will be closed from approximately 3:15 pm to 9:00 pm. Motorists will be directed to use Exit 15W to reach Exit 14 destinations and use Exit 16 to reach I-393 eastbound.
- At the I-393 and I-93 interchange, the I-93 northbound off ramp to I-393 west (Exit 15W) will be closed from approximately 3:15 pm to 9 p.m.
Route 106 Corridor
- On the morning of Sunday, Aug. 23 (the major race day), NH Route 106 will include two northbound lanes and one southbound lane from just north of I-393 to the intersection with Beck Road. A third northbound lane will be added from Beck Road northerly to the NHMS South Gate. Left turns from NH Route 106 will be prohibited at the following intersections: Mudgett Hill Road, Voted Road, and Clough Hill Road.
- Between 3:00 pm and approximately 9:30 pm, NH Route 106 northbound traffic will be detoured easterly on NH Route 129 to NH Route 107. Clough Hill Road will be closed for non-local traffic. Continuing northerly on NH Route 107, detoured traffic will have the option to use NH Route 140 westerly to rejoin NH Route 106 in Belmont or continue further north to NH Route 106 in Laconia.
- Between 3:00 pm and approximately 9:30 pm, NH Route 106 will be configured with multiple southbound lanes. NH Route 106 will have two southbound travel lanes from the NHMS North Gate to the NHMS South Gate. Two additional southbound lanes will be added to receive exiting traffic from the NHMS South Gate. The four southbound lanes will continue travel on NH Route 106 to the intersection with Beck Road where traffic will merge to three lanes. The three southbound lanes will continue to just north of the NH Route 129 intersection and merge to two lanes. From there, two lanes southbound will be provided on NH Route 106 south to I-393 in Concord. A second northbound lane will be added from the NHMS South Gate to just south of the NHMS North Gate. Access to NH Route 106 from the following roads will be restricted to right turns only: Soucook Lane, Brook Circle, Tote Road, Shaker Road, Beck Road, Mudgett Hill Road, Voted Road. Clough Hill Road will be closed to all traffic.
- Uniformed officers will be providing traffic control at the primary exit points from NHMS as well as signalized intersections and other side roads on NH Route 106.
