The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will spend the next three months demolishing the Bedford Toll Plaza on the F.E. Everett Turnpike to make way for all-electronic tolling. Courtesy photo/Google Maps

BEDFORD – For the next three months, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation will be working to demolish the Bedford Toll Plaza on the F.E. Everett Turnpike and convert it to all-electronic tolling.

According to the NH DOT, the first phase of the project will include removing the plaza’s canopy as well as the outer toll booths and tunnels. The four center lanes will remain open. Portable concrete barriers will be used to separate traffic from the construction zones.

The second phase, the installation of AET technology, will allow motorists to maintain highway speeds while an overhead gantry will be used to collect fees. The entire project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2027.

Crews will be working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as weather allows. Motorists are encouraged to sign up for real-time traffic updates at newengland511.org.

Since opening in January 1989, it has been the most profitable toll plaza on the Turnpike, bringing in an estimated $18 million last year alone.

The $16 million project comes after years of cars crashing into the concrete toll booths. Since 2010, The Cabinet reported nine crashes, three of which resulted in fatalities. The victims of the fatal crashes include Scott Defreitas of Nashua, Richard Cote of Manchester and Caleb Scofield of Bow.

In July, Tyler Abrams of Derry was injured when his vehicle veered into the northbound lanes and struck a guardrail. The impact sent the vehicle half-way back across the Turnpike and struck the center median.

In March, Aracelia Valentin of Lawrence, Mass., was involved in a rollover crash on the southbound side of the toll plaza.

Assistant House Majority Leader Brian Labrie (R-Bedford) said the project is worth the $16 million investment.

“It pays long-term dividends in public safety, reduced traffic congestion and local economic growth,” he said. “Responsible governance means spending wisely where and when it matters most and modernizing our infrastructure is a smart, forward-looking choice for our community.”

Labrie also said it is important to recognize that the toll plaza is 37 years old.

“Everything has a shelf life and road and highway technology is no different,” he said. “In my view, public safety must always be priority number one. Removing the tolls in Bedford is a step in the right direction; we already know this model works, as evidenced by the success of the Hooksett Toll Plaza.”

State Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R-Bedford) said safer roads have been one of her top priorities for the past six years.

“I think the project is essential, given the accidents that have occurred, particularly at this toll plaza,” she said. “The electronic tolls will make the highway safer and diminish congestion.”