Daniel Webster Highway

U.S. Route 3
Daniel Webster Highway
Route information
Maintained by NHDOT
ExistedMay 16, 1922 (1922-05-16)–present
Major junctions
South endMiddlesex Road in Tyngsboro, MA
Major intersections I-93 in Franconia Notch State Park
North end R-257 in Chartierville, Quebec
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
Highway system
Auto trails

Daniel Webster Highway (also known as D.W. Highway or Webster Highway) is the name for several sections of U.S. Route 3 (or former alignments) in New Hampshire. The highway is named after 19th century statesman Daniel Webster, a New Hampshire native, and was dedicated on May 16, 1922.[1][2]

Extent

The following sections (or former sections) of U.S. Route 3 are named "Daniel Webster Highway":[3]

  1. From the Massachusetts state line to the south end of Main St. in Nashua (formerly U.S. 3)
  2. From the southern boundary of Merrimack to the northern boundary of Bedford
  3. From Webster St. in northern Manchester to the northern boundary of Hooksett
  4. From U.S. Route 4 in the center of Boscawen to the southern boundary of Franklin
  5. In Belmont from the boundary with Tilton to the Laconia Bypass
  6. From Endicott St. in Weirs Beach, through Meredith, to the northern boundary of Center Harbor
  7. From Bridgewater at its boundary with Ashland to the south end of Main St. in Plymouth
  8. From the north end of Main St. in Plymouth, through Campton and Thornton, to the south end of Main St. in North Woodstock
  9. From the southern boundary of Lincoln to the merge with Interstate 93 in Franconia Notch
  10. From Interstate 93 north of Franconia Notch to Union St. in Whitefield
  11. From the southern boundary of Stratford to the northern boundary of Columbia
  12. From the southern boundary of Clarksville to the west end of Main St. in Pittsburg
  13. From the east end of Main St. in Pittsburg to the Canada–United States border

Sections

South Nashua

Running from Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, up to the junction of Main Street, South Main Street, and East Dunstable Road, D.W. Highway in Nashua is the main thoroughfare for the South Nashua Commercial District in the southeastern portion of the city. Before the construction of the Everett Turnpike, this was also designated as U.S. Route 3. Access between the D.W. Highway and Route 3/Everett Turnpike:

  • Full access via East Dunstable Road at Turnpike Exit 4.
  • Partial access at Turnpike Exit 3; there is no Turnpike exit on the northbound side.
  • Full access between the two roads at Turnpike Exit 2 (Circumferential Highway).
  • Full access via Spit Brook Road at Turnpike Exit 1.
  • Partial access at Route 3 Massachusetts Exit 91 (Middlesex Road); there is no southbound Route 3 exit here.

Merrimack and Bedford

The main road in Merrimack, the highway runs from the southeastern to northeastern portion of town, just east of the Everett Turnpike. It continues into Bedford, crossing to the west of the Everett Turnpike, and passing through the town's main commercial district, ending at the town's northern border with Manchester, where it becomes Second Street.Access between the D.W. Highway and the Turnpike:

  • At Turnpike Exit 7 via the Henri Burque Highway to Concord Street.
  • At Turnpike Exit 10 (Industrial Drive)
  • At Turnpike Exit 11 (Continental Boulevard)
  • At Turnpike Exit 12 (Bedford Road)
  • At New Hampshire Route 101 in Bedford, just west of Interstate 293 Exit 3 (where it merges with the Everett Turnpike)

North of Manchester into Hooksett

Beginning at Webster Street near Livingston Park in north Manchester, heading past Interstate 93, this D.W. Highway is the main commercial thoroughfare in Hooksett, continuing northbound east of the Merrimack River to the town boundary with Allenstown, where US 3 becomes Allenstown Road.

Pittsburg

In Pittsburg, the highway passes, in order proceeding northbound, to the north of Lake Francis, to the east of Back Lake, to the west of both the First Connecticut Lake and Second Connecticut Lake, and to the east of the Third Connecticut Lake. The highway reaches its northern terminus at the border with Canada, where the Pittsburg–Chartierville Border Crossing is located. Travel northward from that point is via Quebec Route 257.

The section of the highway from the Second Connecticut Lake to the Canadian border was constructed to provide access to the border station, which first opened on July 30, 1939.[4] The 10 miles (16 km) of roadway, originally unpaved, was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).[5] This northernmost section of the highway was formally dedicated on September 24, 1939.[6] A sign noting that date, along with the name of the road's key proponent, local politician George D. Roberts, can be seen along the road approximately 200 yards (180 m) south of the border.

See also

  • U.S. Roads portal

43°50′13″N 71°39′29″W / 43.837°N 71.658°W / 43.837; -71.658

References

  1. ^ Brown, Janice (August 18, 2015). "The Origin and History of New Hampshire's Daniel Webster Highway". cowhampshireblog.com. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  2. ^ "Daniel Webster Road Was Dedicated Today". The Recorder. Greenfield, Massachusetts. May 16, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved February 24, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ NH Department of Transportation, New Hampshire roads statewide data, stored at NH GRANIT Archived 2003-12-03 at the Wayback Machine (theme keyword "transportation")
  4. ^ "New Hampshire's First Custom House Opens". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston, Maine. August 2, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "New Gateway To Canada Attracts Many Motorists". St. Johnsbury Republican. St. Johnsbury, Vermont. August 7, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "New Road To Canada Opened". The Portsmouth Herald. Portsmouth, New Hampshire. September 25, 1939. p. 6. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via newspapers.com.