# 11.9.2026 Mechanic Street Pump Station Public Input Meeting 2

The City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, held a second public input meeting on the Mechanic Street Pump Station project on November 10, 2026. City staff and the consultant team—AECOM, Underwood Engineers, and Terra Firma—reviewed the feasibility study and compared a replacement station near its current location with relocating it to Pierce Island using a microtunnel. The current-site concept is estimated at $23 million–$43 million; the Pierce Island option is estimated to add $7 million–$15 million, including an estimated $7 million–$10 million for the tunnel and shafts. These are early, uncertain capital estimates, escalated to a June 2030 midpoint at 3.85% annually; detailed operating and maintenance costs were not yet developed. Staff recommended advancing the current-site concept based on reliability, cost, and complexity, while noting that no final decision has been made. The project is funded in part through state revolving funds for design, and the city’s procurement materials, including the consultant RFP, are available through its purchasing website.

Residents and councilors raised questions about parkland, eminent domain, flood resilience, bridge-pipe vulnerability, construction duration and disruption, business access, and ratepayer impacts. Staff agreed to prepare additional side-by-side information on costs, construction sequencing and impacts, lifecycle costs, and ratepayer effects, and to provide further project-process information; the project team also noted requests for building dimensions and easier access to procurement documents. No vote, contract award, or procurement approval occurred. Staff planned to report public feedback to the City Council on November 16, with further public discussion and council direction to follow.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** November 10, 2026

### Sources
- [11.9.2026 Mechanic Street Pump Station Public Input Meeting 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7zoKKtbtiQ) - City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire