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New Hampshire Route 12

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New Hampshire Route 12 marker
New Hampshire Route 12
Map of western New Hampshire with NH 12 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NHDOT
Length62.773 mi[1] (101.023 km)
Major junctions
South end Route 12 in Winchendon, MA
Major intersections NH 9 / NH 10 / NH 101 in Keene
North end VT 12 in Ascutney, VT
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountiesCheshire, Sullivan
Highway system
NH 11 NH 13
Route 11N.E. Route 12A

New Hampshire Route 12 is a 62.773-mile (101.023 km) long north–south state highway in southwestern New Hampshire. Its southern terminus is at the Massachusetts state line in Fitzwilliam, where it continues south as Massachusetts Route 12. Its northern terminus is at the Vermont state line in Claremont (a terminus it shares with New Hampshire Route 103), where it continues north as Vermont Route 12. Most of the northern part of NH 12 runs along the Connecticut River.

Its number is derived from its original 1922 designation as New England Interstate Route 12 (also known as the "Keene Way"). Present-day Vermont Route 12, New Hampshire Route 12, Massachusetts Route 12 and Connecticut Route 12 still mostly follow the original route. The 283.3-mile (455.9 km) four-state series of State Route 12s extend from Morrisville, Vermont, to Groton, Connecticut.

Route description

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Fitzwilliam to Keene

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NH 12 begins in Fitzwilliam where it connects to Massachusetts Route 12 at the state line. The highway heads northwest into the town center where it crosses NH 119. NH 12 continues northwest through Troy, then dips into parts of Marlborough and Swanzey before entering the city of Keene. Immediately after crossing into Keene, NH 12 intersects the northern terminus of NH 32 then meets NH 101 near Keene State College. NH 12 turns west along NH 101, then meets NH 10 at a roundabout. NH 10 joins NH 12 and NH 101 west to the next intersection at NH 9. NH 101 ends while NH 10 and NH 12 turn north with NH 9 eastbound in tow. The three routes are multiplexed for 1.2 miles (1.9 km) as they bypass downtown Keene to the west. NH 9 and NH 10 split off at a trumpet interchange while NH 12 continues northwest. The highway interchanges with NH 12A on its way out of town.

Surry to Charlestown

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NH 12 enters the southwestern corner of Surry, then turns nearly due west, crossing into the town of Westmoreland. It intersects the northern terminus of NH 63 near the Connecticut River, then turns north and enters Walpole. Now paralleling the eastern bank of the river, NH 12 heads north towards the town center. It intersects with NH 123, which connects to U.S. Route 5 in the neighboring town of Westminster, Vermont. NH 123 south joins NH 12 north and the two routes run in a wrong-way concurrency until crossing the Cold River, where NH 123 splits off to the east. NH 12 continues north along the river and crosses into Charlestown where it meets the northern terminus of NH 12A. The highway continues through downtown, then intersects NH 11, which connects to Interstate 91 and US 5 in nearby Springfield, Vermont. NH 11 east joins NH 12 north and the two routes continue north. A second, northern segment of NH 12A splits off to bypass Claremont while NH 11 and NH 12 head towards the downtown area.

Claremont

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In downtown Claremont NH 11 and NH 12 intersect with NH 103 and split after a 10.0-mile (16.1 km) overlap. Facilitated by a traffic circle, NH 11 joins NH 103 eastbound while NH 12 joins NH 103 westbound. NH 12 and NH 103 cross the Sugar River, then parallel it to the northwest (which they do for the remainder of their lengths) back towards the Connecticut River. Heading west, NH 12 and NH 103 cross NH 12A, then turn northwest and cross the river into Ascutney, Vermont. NH 103 ends at the state line while NH 12 becomes Vermont Route 12.

History

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NH 12 was originally designated in 1922 as part of New England Interstate Route 12, a 279-mile (449 km) regional highway stretching from Route 1 (modern U.S. Route 1, which partly runs on Interstate 95) in New London, Connecticut, to Derby, Vermont, where it terminated at Route 2 (modern U.S. Route 5) near the border with Quebec. It was known as the "Keene Way," reflecting its route through Keene, New Hampshire.

In 1926, the New England road marking system was usurped by the system of United States Numbered Highways and in ca. 1932, Route 12 was redesignated as state highways bearing the number 12 (although a portion of Route 12 in southern Connecticut swapped designations with Route 32 at the same time). In the 1960s, VT 12 was truncated from Derby to its present terminus in Morrisville, with the former highway remaining as parts of VT 14, VT 16 and US 5. The highway as a whole has remained largely unchanged since.

Junction list

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CountyLocation[1][2]mi[1][2]kmDestinationsNotes
CheshireFitzwilliam0.0000.000
Route 12 south (School Street) – Winchendon
Continuation from Massachusetts
5.4928.839 NH 119 – Rindge, Winchester
Keene17.06627.465 NH 32 (Old Homestead Hwy.) – Swanzey Ctr., Dillant–Hopkins Airport
17.95728.899
NH 101 east – Peterborough
Southern end of concurrency with NH 101
18.70330.100
NH 10 south (Winchester Street) – Winchester
Southern end of concurrency with NH 10
19.19630.893
NH 9 west (Franklin Pierce Hwy.) – Brattleboro, VT
Western terminus of NH 101; southern end of concurrency with NH 9
19.94132.092West Street – KeeneInterchange
20.39632.824

NH 9 east / NH 10 north (Franklin Pierce Hwy.) – Concord, Newport, Hillsborough, Henniker
Interchange; northern end of concurrency with NH 9 / NH 10
21.97635.367 NH 12A (Maple Avenue) – SurryInterchange; southern terminus of NH 12A (southern segment)
Westmoreland30.41748.951 NH 63 – Westmoreland, ChesterfieldNorthern terminus of NH 63
Walpole36.14258.165


NH 123 north (Dwinnell Street) to I-91 / US 5 – Westminster, VT
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with NH 123
38.86762.550
NH 123 south (Whitcomb Road) – Alstead
Northern end of wrong-way concurrency with NH 123
40.49465.169

To I-91 / US 5 (Arch Bridge) – Bellows Falls, VT
SullivanCharlestown44.16271.072 NH 12A – Langdon, AlsteadNorthern terminus of NH 12A (southern segment)
48.48778.032

NH 11 west (Springfield Road) to I-91 – Springfield, VT
Southern end of concurrency with NH 11
52.35084.249 NH 12A (River Road) – North Charlestown, Ascutney, VTSouthern terminus of NH 12A (northern segment)
Claremont58.43594.042

NH 11 east / NH 103 east (Tremont Street) – Newport
Northern end of concurrency with NH 11; southern end of concurrency with NH 103
62.228100.146 NH 12A (Jarvis Hill Road / Windsor Road) – North Charlestown, West Lebanon
62.773101.023

VT 12 north to I-91 – Ascutney
Western terminus of NH 103; continuation into Vermont
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

New Hampshire Route 12A

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Route 12A and Route 123 concurrency

New Hampshire Route 12A is a designation held by two state highways which bypass separate sections of NH 12. Although not directly connected, the two segments are linked by an 8.2-mile (13.2 km) section of NH 12 in Charlestown.

Southern segment

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New Hampshire Route 12A marker
New Hampshire Route 12A
LocationKeeneCharlestown
Length21.598 mi[1] (34.759 km)

The southern segment of NH 12A is a 21.598-mile-long (34.759 km) loop route of NH 12 which bypasses Westmoreland and Walpole. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with NH 12 in Keene. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with NH 12 in Charlestown.

This section of NH 12A begins at an interchange with NH 12 north of downtown Keene. The highway initially heads northeast, then turns north to parallel the Ashuelot River and enters the town of Surry. NH 12A passes through the center of Surry and continues north into Alstead. In Alstead, NH 12A continues north until intersecting with NH 123. NH 12A joins NH 123 and the highway intersects NH 123A before turning west along the Cold River. The road turns north to cross the river, then NH 12A splits from NH 123. NH 12A continues northwest through the town of Langdon before crossing into Charlestown. NH 12A terminates at NH 12 in the southern end of town.


CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
CheshireKeene0.00.0

NH 12 to NH 9 / NH 10 – Walpole, Charlestown, Keene, Troy
Southern terminus
SurryNo major junctions
Alstead14.523.3
NH 123 south (Forest Road) – East Alstead, Marlow
Southern end of concurrency with NH 123
15.324.6
NH 123A east (Acworth Road) – Acworth, Newport
Western terminus of NH 123A
16.025.7
NH 123 north (River Road) – Walpole
Northern end of concurrency with NH 123
SullivanLangdonNo major junctions
Charlestown21.634.8 NH 12 (Bellows Falls Road) – Charlestown, Claremont, KeeneNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Northern segment

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New Hampshire Route 12A marker
New Hampshire Route 12A
LocationCharlestownW. Lebanon
Length26.900 mi[1] (43.291 km)

The northern segment of NH 12A is a 26.900-mile-long (43.291 km) long spur route of NH 12 that travels south-to-north along the eastern side of the Connecticut River. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NH 11 and NH 12 in Charlestown. Its northern terminus is at US 4 and NH 10 in Lebanon.

This section of NH 12A starts in northern Charlestown where it splits from NH 11 / NH 12. It runs along the eastern side of the Connecticut River, bypassing downtown Claremont to the west. After crossing the Sugar River, NH 12A crosses NH 12 and NH 103, which cross into Ascutney, Vermont, just to the west.

Now paralleling its parent route, which has become Vermont Route 12 across the river, NH 12A continues north into the town of Cornish. Bridge Street offers a local connection to VT 12, US 5 and VT 44 in neighboring Windsor, Vermont. NH 12A continues through western Plainfield without any major junctions, then enters the city of Lebanon. NH 12A continues north and interchanges with Interstate 89 before terminating at US 4 / NH 10 in West Lebanon village.


CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
SullivanCharlestown0.00.0 NH 11 / NH 12 (Claremont Road) – Claremont, Charlestown, KeeneSouthern terminus
Claremont7.512.1

NH 12 / NH 103 (Main Street) to I-91 / US 5 – Claremont, Newport, Ascutney, VT
Cornish12.920.8Bridge Street to I-91 – Windsor, VT
GraftonLebanon25.841.5
I-89 to I-91 – Lebanon, Concord, Vermont
Exit 20 on I-89
26.943.3 US 4 / NH 10 (Main Street / Seminary Hill Road)Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Bureau of Planning & Community Assistance (February 20, 2015). "NH Public Roads". Concord, New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Bureau of Planning & Community Assistance (April 3, 2015). "Nodal Reference 2015, State of New Hampshire". New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 7, 2015.[permanent dead link]
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