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HB 578 · 2025 · House · Public Works and Highways Committee

Sound barrier on Everett Turnpike

AI-generated

erecting a sound barrier along the F.E. Everett Turnpike.

Requires the department of transportation to install sound barriers along a segment of the F.E. Everett Turnpike in Merrimack.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires the department of transportation to install sound barriers along a certain segment of the F.E. Everett turnpike in the town of Merrimack.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bill BoydRPrimeClerk· Public Works and Highways

Rep. Julie MilesR, Rep. Maureen MooneyR, Rep. Nancy MurphyD, Rep. Adam PresaR, Rep. Rosemarie RungD, Rep. Wendy ThomasD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

64 signed in online · 19 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The highway is just behind my back yard and now we can't sleep, watch TV or converse normally in the house with windows open. We can't hear each other in the back yard unless we shout. This will be so much worse when the highway is widened.…”
— Lisa Mason, Merrimacksupports
“We live on Davis Rd. in Merrimack. We are one road removed from the highway. We have lived here for over 20 years. In that time, the noise from the Everett Turnpike has become a nuisance not only during rush hour times but now during most times of the day.…”
— Thomas Wilder, Merrimacksupports
“MY house one Davis Road backs up to the highway. The noise from the traffic is extremely loud. We cannot open our windows in the rear of our house due to the noise. It is.difficult to have a conversation outside.…”
— Kathleen Cavaliere, Merrimacksupports
“This bill has no public benefit but seeks to spend $7.2 million of our money. This is purely a creature comfort item for a single town.…”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–2
    Overall
    89% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted338–28
    Overall
    92% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Public Works and Highways34:53–49:4114m 48slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Public Works and Highways31:14–37:226m 8slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:19:20–5:21:352m 15slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 338-28

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Public Works and Highways HJ 3 P. 17
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 10:30 am LOB 201
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 201
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2025 (Vote 16-2; RC) HC 14 P. 27
  5. Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 338-28 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 76

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.