The $107 million replacement for the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge, the span that carries Route 1A (Ocean Boulevard) over the Hampton River inlet between Seabrook and Hampton, is about halfway finished. Construction started in 2024, roughly $70 million has been spent so far, and the project is still on pace for a 2028 finish.
When it’s done, the new span runs 1,300 feet with two 11-foot travel lanes, 8-foot shoulders, and a 6-foot sidewalk on each side, replacing a bridge that’s been on the state’s Red List for years. That’s a meaningful upgrade for a stretch of road that backs up every summer weekend and carries a lot more foot and bike traffic than it was built for.
The bridge being replaced has earned the upgrade. Per NHDOT’s project page, the current bascule (drawbridge) span dates to 1949 and itself replaced the old “Mile-Long Bridge,” originally built for trolleys. It’s been patched and rehabbed six times since (1963, 1978, 1983, 1990, 2002, 2010), plus emergency repairs to the lifting mechanism in 2018. The state spent years studying whether to rehab it again, rebuild another bascule, or go with a fixed span before landing on the fixed structure now under construction. Nearly 80 years of stopgaps is a long run for a bridge connecting two of the busiest beach towns on the Seacoast.
A big infrastructure project actually staying on schedule and on budget is rare enough that it’s worth a mention on its own. For anyone with property near that inlet, on either side, the practical read is simple: expect construction noise and detours through 2028, then a materially better crossing after. Worth factoring into the timeline if you’re thinking about buying or selling along that corridor.
If you’re looking at Hampton specifically, not just the bridge, I built a Hampton Area Guide: the beaches, the restaurants locals actually eat at, schools, commute, and current market numbers.
Thinking about buying or selling near the Seabrook/Hampton line while this project wraps up? I can walk you through what’s actually for sale and what the timeline means for value. No pressure, just a straight answer if you want one.
