KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene’s Director of Public Works, Don Lussier, was the featured guest on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell show last week, offering a wide-ranging update on city infrastructure projects and acknowledging that communication with downtown merchants must improve as construction plans move forward.

At the center of the conversation was the city’s long-discussed downtown infrastructure overhaul, which has grown in price by about $5 million over the past year. Lussier explained that the spike stems largely from the extensive underground work required, with more than half of the downtown’s surface area slated for excavation to replace aging water, sewer, drainage, gas, and electrical lines.

“This project is more than paving streets and adding sidewalks,” Lussier told Mitchell. “It’s about replacing systems that have been underground for decades.”

Cost-Cutting on the Table

To offset the jump in costs, Lussier outlined several proposed cutbacks, including scaling back work on Gibo Avenue and Church Street — a change that could save around $2.3 to $2.4 million. Other options include reusing half of the existing light fixtures, a move that could save $250,000, and opting for colored concrete bike lanes, which would add only $68,000 compared to standard sidewalks.

The city expects to put the project out to bid next month. Debate continues over whether to proceed with a two-year or three-year construction schedule, each carrying different costs and levels of disruption for downtown businesses.

Communication Concerns

Mitchell pressed Lussier on complaints that downtown merchants had missed a key Municipal Services, Facilities & Infrastructure (MSFI) Committee meeting where cost overruns were discussed. Lussier admitted that the city needed to be more proactive.

“We meet every fourth Wednesday, and those meetings are open to the public,” Lussier said. “But we recognize that we need to do a better job making sure the business community knows when important updates are happening.”

Communication has been a recurring theme in city discussions. Just last week, officials grappled with a similar challenge when considering whether to restrict recreational access to the wastewater treatment plant’s driveway in Swanzey. The city initially closed the road during weekday business hours for safety reasons but reversed course after public outcry, reopening it with new signage and promising a study of traffic patterns.

Beyond Downtown

Lussier also used the radio appearance to highlight progress on other projects:

  • Marlboro Street reconstruction will go out to bid soon, with construction beginning next year.

  • The rail trail’s first phase, from Eastern Avenue to near Route 101, heads to bid next week.

  • The Island Street project remains on schedule.

  • Winchester Street pavement preservation began Tuesday and is scheduled to run through Friday, 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lussier’s remarks come as Keene officials weigh several costly priorities at once. In addition to the downtown overhaul and wastewater access debate, a recent committee meeting also examined the city’s future parking needs. Consultants warned that Keene could face a shortage of up to 850 spaces and recommended constructing a 915-space garage at the Commercial Street lot — a proposal with a $1.3 million annual debt service price tag.

Balancing Ambition and Affordability

Taken together, the projects paint a picture of a city trying to modernize its infrastructure while managing public expectations and financial realities.

“We want to get this right, because we only get one shot at it,” Lussier said on the program. “But at the same time, we have to be mindful of the costs and the impacts to our community.”

For downtown business owners, residents, and commuters, the coming months promise more debate — and, once bids are finalized, the start of a major construction period that will reshape Keene’s core for decades to come.

Listen to the full interview: