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Notice

The NHDOT is now accepting applications online for Sponsor a Highway sections. Renewals will also be processed online.

To get started, please see the links under "Application & Forms".

For assistance, please visit the NHDOT Permit page for some helpful guides or email DOT-e-Permitting-Salesforce-Help-Team@msgroups.nh.gov.
 

Sponsor-A-Highway

Welcome to NHDOT Sponsor-A-Highway! The Sponsor-A-Highway program provides an avenue for individuals, organizations, and businesses to help the Department of Transportation maintain sections of roadside in New Hampshire's state highway system and was created to support NHDOT's ongoing efforts to make our highways cleaner and more attractive while at the same time easing the growing cost of litter removal. The program encourages environmentally conscious business and community groups to help in beautifying their communities by supplying volunteer resources to maintain high visibility areas on New Hampshire's state highways.

Welcome to Sponsor-A-Highway

Since our Sponsor-A-Highway program began in 1994, thousands of volunteers representing over 75,000 groups have maintained over 24,500 miles of New Hampshire roadsides. In the process, nearly 513,000 bags have been filled with litter and removed from our roadsides. The value of our Sponsor-A-Highway program can be measured not only in financial savings to taxpayers, but in the dedicated hours that thousands of volunteers have unselfishly donated to keep New Hampshire beautiful for all of us. Bags donated by New Hampshire The Beautiful and Northeast Resource Recovery Association.

If participation in New Hampshire's Sponsor-A-Highway program is interesting to you, you can get involved in one of the following ways:

  • Volunteering - individuals or groups donate their free time to maintain Secondary Highways like US 4 and NH 113. Volunteer groups are not allowed to participate along Limited Access highways (primarily the interstate highways).
     
  • Maintenance Providers - Individuals or groups partner with an approved private maintenance provider who, for a fee, maintains the highway for you. Maintenance Providers can operate along both Secondary and Limited Access highways.

How does the program work and how to get involved?

Applications have moved online. To apply, you must have an account in the NH Permit Portal. Individuals should create an individual account, but organizations and businesses should apply for a business account.

When you have an account, click the below link to apply. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, the final agreement/permit will establish your group's participation in the program.

After a brief orientation, your group will be ready to schedule events and report your activities.

Below are links to commonly used forms, as well as the program booklet.

Below are links to the websites for the only approved providers to operate on NHDOT highways. After one is chosen, they will handle all future coordination with NHDOT.

 

What is the difference between highway types?

  • Minimum section length of approximately 2 miles, maintaining both directions of travel
  • One recognition sign is installed at each end of the section by the NHDOT
  • Sponsorship is required for a minimum of 2 years
  • Litter cleanup is required a minimum of 4 times a year, typically once in April, June, August, and October
  • DOT provides safety vests, advanced warning signs, and litter bags for each event
  • Minimum section length of approximately 4 miles, maintaining one direction of travel, if median isn’t included
  • OR, minimum section length of approximately 2 miles, maintaining one direction of travel, if median is included
  • One recognition sign is installed at the beginning of the section by the Maintenance Provider
  • Sponsorship is required for a minimum of 2 years
  • Litter cleanup is required a minimum of 14 times a year, typically twice a month for 7 months (April-October)
  • Maintenance Provider uses their own equipment

For more information contact your local program coordinator.

See NHDOT District Map for more information.

District Map