Rockingham County

President Biden talks infrastructure; supporting port cities in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Locals in Portsmouth may not have seen the President but they are hoping the infrastructure money helps in the right ways. City leaders say the President’s call for infrastructure funding in the Port has already worked with Washington to secure money to invest in the infrastructure of Port of New Hampshire. The city says it is the only deep water port between Boston and Portland, Maine and handles two billion dollars of cargo a year.

David Haskell has called Portsmouth his home for his entire life. He has watched this working harbor in action for decades. His pitch is for more activity like adding cruise ships. “That would bring more business to Portsmouth, if people came over in a ship and stuff,” said Haskell.

Many locals applaud Washington for setting aside millions in infrastructure money to invest in the harbor and ports. “I think it is important to keep it running. I also think it is important to this area,” said one local.

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern these types of investments from Washington are a win-win for the country, the region, and their community. “When you put money into something it has to be spent and that is creation of jobs,” said McEachern.

The Mayor says one recent example of improvements is a widening project at the port authority which will help get ships in and out quicker. “When you are able to bring in 10 ships when you could only bring in 8 before that adds up a lot,” said McEachern.

Some people say investing in these historical areas will help them down the road. “It’s really cool that Portsmouth has kept part of itself so if the infrastructure plan still allows it to be a functioning, thriving city and not just a tourist attraction I think that is great,” a woman said.

The Mayor says the widening of the port authority here in the harbor will help ships get in and out faster and that will help supply line issues.

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