Post by gotmoxie on Jul 9, 2013 20:41:20 GMT -5
NH DOS and NH DOT Not in a Rush to Consider ATV's on Rt. 2 & 16
July 3 2013
By Edith Tucker
The Berlin Reporter
GORHAM — It likely will be late July or early August before the state Department of Safety (NHDOS) and Department of Transportation (NHDOT) decide whether or not to allow ATVs to travel with the flow of traffic on nearly three miles on Routes 2 and 16, both state highways.
“From discussions with DOT I would anticipate late July or early August before any of the road sections may be available for use,” replied Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache in answer to an e-mail inquiry.
This means that the selectmen’s unanimous vote to open up town roads to connect local ATVers to the Jericho Festival at Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin on July 26-27 will also not have any business-enhancing effect in the tourist-oriented town, Gamache explained. “They could open all their roads but none of them would be able to connect to the trail systems (since the state highways will not be open to ATVs) so they would have nowhere to go,” the Bureau chief reported. “Gorham would still be isolated during the Festival.”
There is better news over in Beecher Falls, however, at the other end of the Ride the Wilds OHRV trail system.
Landowner Ethan Allen has agreed to let ATVers use a short strip of land to connect a rail-trail from Pittsburg to create a desired loop connection. Gamache reported, “A written agreement with Ethan Allen is being reviewed at the N.H. Attorney General’s Office and should be signed soon, but I understand they have allowed the trail to be opened up while the paperwork is being done.”
July 3 2013
By Edith Tucker
The Berlin Reporter
GORHAM — It likely will be late July or early August before the state Department of Safety (NHDOS) and Department of Transportation (NHDOT) decide whether or not to allow ATVs to travel with the flow of traffic on nearly three miles on Routes 2 and 16, both state highways.
“From discussions with DOT I would anticipate late July or early August before any of the road sections may be available for use,” replied Trails Bureau Chief Chris Gamache in answer to an e-mail inquiry.
This means that the selectmen’s unanimous vote to open up town roads to connect local ATVers to the Jericho Festival at Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin on July 26-27 will also not have any business-enhancing effect in the tourist-oriented town, Gamache explained. “They could open all their roads but none of them would be able to connect to the trail systems (since the state highways will not be open to ATVs) so they would have nowhere to go,” the Bureau chief reported. “Gorham would still be isolated during the Festival.”
There is better news over in Beecher Falls, however, at the other end of the Ride the Wilds OHRV trail system.
Landowner Ethan Allen has agreed to let ATVers use a short strip of land to connect a rail-trail from Pittsburg to create a desired loop connection. Gamache reported, “A written agreement with Ethan Allen is being reviewed at the N.H. Attorney General’s Office and should be signed soon, but I understand they have allowed the trail to be opened up while the paperwork is being done.”