Spring Operations | Concord, NH (original) (raw)
Report A Concern
Use our online web portal or MyConcordNH mobile app to report an issue (pothole, missed trash collection, illegal dumping, graffiti, damaged street sign, parking concern, snow plowing, and more). Report a concern and learn more at www.concordnh.gov/seeclickfix.
Hydrant Flushing
Each spring, Concord General Services’ Highway and Utilities Division flushes City-owned hydrants as part of required routine maintenance to remove sediment from water distribution pipes. This process maintains water quality, clarity, and checks water pressure.
Water customers may experience low water pressure or discolored water when hydrant flushing occurs in their area. If discoloration occurs, customers are advised to run their tap water on cold until the water runs clear. Residents should avoid doing laundry during scheduled flushing times.
2025 Hydrant Flushing
The City of Concord anticipates hydrant flushing to begin on Monday, April 7, 2025. Flushing will continue for several weeks throughout different areas of Concord.
Weekly Hydrant Flushing Schedules:
- Week 1: April 7 - April 11, 2025
- Week 2: April 14 - April 18, 2025
- Week 3: April 21 - April 25, 2025
- Week 4: April 28 - May 2, 2025
- Week 5: May 5 - May 9, 2025
- Week 6: May 16, 2025
*These schedules are tentative and are subject to change at any time.*
Street Sweeping
BDM Sweeping is contracted to perform street sweeping for the City of Concord. Due to weather, the anticipated start date of Monday, March 24, was postponed. Sweeping started on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in the Concord Heights area and will continue as weather permits throughout the city. Sweeping is performed to clean up the City’s streets, focusing on the City’s enclosed drainage system to keep drains clear of debris. Residents are advised to refrain from street parking between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. until sweeping is complete on their street. Cooperation is appreciated to allow the street sweeper to reach the curb and more thoroughly complete sweeping.
Load Limits
Road damage naturally occurs during the transition from winter to spring due to the frequent thawing and freezing cycles. Fluctuating temperatures from winter to spring can cause roads to shift. Roads easily shift during the spring thaw, which occurs when any ice underneath the asphalt begins to melt, typically in areas indicating frost heaves and recent potholes. Frost heaves are formed when snow and rain get through the cracks and freeze underneath the roads, expanding the road upwards. When temperatures warm, the ground thaws, and roads contract back down, causing breaks in the pavement, cracks, potholes, sinkholes, and weak road structures.
Heavy weight on weakened roads can cause additional damage to the structure of a road. The amount of road damage is directly linked to how often a road is used and the weight of each load, especially if the road does not have a solid foundation. As temperatures begin to warm each spring, the City of Concord implements load limits pursuant to Code Ordinance 17-6-10 to minimize trucking and protect road conditions.
2025 Spring Road Load Limits Lifting Monday, April 7
The City of Concord posted weight limits to streets in Concord on Monday, March 10, and will be lifting load limits on Monday, April 7, 2025. Starting April 7, crews will begin to remove all load limit signs throughout the city and travel permissions will no longer be required for commercial truckers and drivers of heavy construction vehicles.
Seasonal weight restrictions of 9 tons are posted to protect roads from heavy vehicles during the spring thaw. The road load limits of 9 tons will not affect the average car or truck but will impact heavy construction vehicles and commercial trucking.
The City of Concord does not issue permits for drivers for spring load limits. Drivers can call Concord General Services at 603-228-2737 to request travel permissions if necessary for one or two loads within the morning.
Potholes & Road Damage
Potholes are filled year-round but are fixed more often during late winter and early spring as road structures are weakened from changing temperatures. Freezing and thawing cycles cause the ground to shift, which can then cause cracks in the pavement. Moisture from snow and rain then gets underneath the roads through the cracks. The water remains underneath the roads left to freeze since the frozen soil prevents the water from draining. As the water underneath the road freezes, the road expands upwards creating frost heaves. As temperatures warm, the ground thaws and roads contract back down and potholes are formed.
Crews work in the spring to repair any road damage created during the spring thaw. Crews repair potholes by first cleaning out the debris in the hole, filling it in with either cold patch or hot mix, and then using a compactor to compress materials. Crews patch potholes and make road repairs when possible. Report a pothole using the City of Concord’s reporting tool at www.concordnh.gov/seeclickfix or on the MyConcordNH mobile app.