KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow)  Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists should expect a series of traffic changes, road closures and detours in Keene this week as several city construction projects move forward.

Work scheduled for the week of Aug. 17 includes continued utility and roadway construction downtown, water main work on several residential streets, bridge replacement activity and improvements to the Transportation Heritage Trail.

In Central Square, Liberty Utilities will continue installing a new gas main on the east side of the square near Roxbury Street. Roxbury Street will be closed while crews are working, with detours put in place as needed. The work is expected to continue through the week, weather permitting, with traffic and parking restored at the end of each day.

Casella Construction will also continue work on the west side of Central Square. Crews will conduct test-pit excavation and install sewer main, requiring temporary traffic shifts, closures and detours. Normal traffic and parking conditions are expected to return at the end of each business day.

On Marlboro Street, Bazin Brothers will continue reconstruction work between Kelleher Street and Eastern Avenue. Crews will install curbs and work on sidewalks while traffic moves through the construction zone under alternating one-way or shifted two-way patterns.

At Key Road, Park Construction will continue installing a box culvert, catch basins and tributary culverts around the Brickhouse and Keene Cinema Plaza. Parking areas and travel lanes may be restricted or detoured as the work progresses. The project is expected to take about two more weeks.

Work on the George Street Bridge replacement is also moving into its next phase. New England Infrastructure will install excavation support sheeting and utilities on the west side of the bridge.

George Street will remain closed to traffic and detoured for the remainder of the project. This phase is expected to last about 14 weeks.

Several water main projects are scheduled throughout the week:

Kennedy Street: Beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Frank Lucius Construction will install a water main gate valve at Sesame Street. Traffic will alternate through the work zone, with the project expected to take one day.
Gilsum Street: Beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, crews will replace water main gate valves at Woodbury Street. Gilsum Street and Woodbury Street will be closed to through traffic during the work, which is expected to take one day.
Birch Street: Beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, water main valves will be replaced at Aspen Street and Balsam Street. Traffic will alternate through the area, with work expected to last one day.
Walker Street: Beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, crews will install a water main valve at Kenworth Avenue. Alternating one-way traffic will be maintained during the one-day project.

Affected property owners have been notified about the scheduled water work and associated outages.

At the Eastern Avenue Transportation Heritage Trail trailhead, Gordon’s Property Services and Maintenance will continue reconstructing the trailhead and installing drainage. Trailhead parking will be closed throughout the week. The work is expected to continue for several weeks, with the overall project scheduled for completion in October.

Work will also continue at the City Hall Parking Garage. Structural Preservation Systems will install joint sealants and remove equipment and materials from the lower level, where work has been completed.

Installation of the garage’s traffic membrane has been delayed until the following week because of recent and anticipated rain. The upper level of the garage will remain closed through Sept. 1 while the membrane is installed, weather permitting. The city expects the garage to reopen and return to normal operations Sept. 1.

The city is reminding motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to slow down in construction areas, obey traffic-control devices and watch for changing conditions. Minor delays should be expected as crews work throughout the city.