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Route History for US 4 in New Hampshire

• In 1926, the route US 4 now follows was numbered as NE 16 from Portsmouth to Dover. It was not numbered between Dover and Northwood, but was numbered NE 9 between Northwood and Concord. Between Concord and Franklin, the route followed NE 6, and between Franklin and the Vermont state line, the route followed NE 14. Most of the route was improved, not paved, in 1926, except between Portsmouth and Dover, and between Concord and Franklin were it was paved. The path followed in 1926 between Portsmouth and Dover is now called Maplewood Avenue, Woodbury Avenue, Old Dover Road, NH 16, Dover Point Road, and Central Avenue. Between Dover and Durham, the path followed what is now NH 9, NH 155, and Madbury Road. Between Durham and Chichester, the route followed what is now Main Street, NH 155A, Old Concord Turnpike, and US 4. Between Chichester and Concord the route followed what is now NH 28, Granny Howe Road, Canterbury Road, Ricker Road, Loudon Road, and NH 9. Between Concord and Franklin, the route followed what is now US 3. Between Franklin and Andover the route followed what is now NH 11, and between Andover and the Vermont state line, the route followed what is now US 4.
• By 1928, the road had been renumbered US 4. Between Dover and Northwood, US 4 followed what is now NH 9. The entire route was paved by 1928, except between Potter Place and Canaan where the road was still only improved.
• By 1930, the entire route had been paved.
• By 1940, US 4 followed what is now Maplewood Avenue, Woodbury Avenue, US 4, Old Piscataqua Road, and NH 108 between Portsmouth and Durham. Between Boscawen and Andover, the road was rerouted to its current route, except through Salisbury where it followed what is now Old Coach Road and NH 127.
• By 1951, US 4 had been realigned to its current route out of Portsmouth.
• By 1963, US 4 leading out of Portsmouth was widened to a limited access highway. US 4 was also realigned to its current path around Chichester.
• Between 1966 and 1970, US 4 had been rerouted to its current path around Durham. In addition, I 89 was completed between Concord and West Lebanon, replacing US 4 as a major through route.
• Between 1975 and 1980, US 4 was rerouted to its current path around Concord and north to Boscawen, following I 393 and I 93.
• By 1996, US 4 followed the route it does today through New Hampshire.

Key to Abbreviations for Route Numbers:

• US - US Highway
• NE - New England Interstate Highway (Pre-dates US highway system)
• NH - New Hampshire State Highway
• I - Interstate Highway (Eisenhower Interstate System)

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