KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Residents, downtown business owners and others with a stake in the future of downtown Keene have an opportunity to get a closer look at the city’s ongoing Downtown Infrastructure Project, ask questions and help shape how construction affects the community.

Keene Public Works will hold its next monthly Coffee and Hard Hats meeting on Tuesday, November 10, at 9 a.m. at the Keene Transportation Center, located at 12 Gilbo Avenue. The meeting is open to the public, and city officials are encouraging more community members to take advantage of the opportunity to participate.

Held monthly, the informal gatherings are designed to give people a direct line of communication with the city and the contractors working on the multiyear infrastructure project. Public Works Director Don Lussier and representatives from project contractor Casella Construction, including Brian Rossier, have participated in previous meetings to discuss construction progress, upcoming work, scheduling and concerns raised by those attending.

The meetings have provided a forum for discussions about some of the project’s most visible and potentially disruptive elements, including tree removal and transplanting in Central Square, underground water and sewer installation, drainage improvements, excavation, paving, traffic patterns, pedestrian safety and access to downtown businesses.

They also give business owners an opportunity to raise practical concerns about how construction could affect customers, deliveries, parking and day-to-day operations. Previous discussions have addressed everything from telecommunications infrastructure and dust to construction equipment, event access and advance notice of service interruptions.

With work continuing across different areas of downtown, the schedule and potential impacts will change as construction progresses. The project is expected to continue through December 2028, making ongoing communication between the city, contractors, businesses and residents an important part of the process.

While the meetings have been taking place monthly, city officials would like to see more people attend. The gatherings are not limited to business owners immediately adjacent to construction. Residents, property owners, employees, customers and anyone interested in downtown’s future are welcome.

Attending provides an opportunity to hear information directly from the people overseeing the work rather than relying on secondhand information, while also giving participants a chance to bring forward questions, identify concerns and offer feedback that may help inform construction planning and communication.

The November meeting will take place on a Tuesday rather than the usual Wednesday schedule because of the Veterans Day holiday.

Those unable to attend can stay informed by signing up for the city’s email updates and visiting the City of Keene website for project information and construction announcements.

Public Works staff also provide regular project updates during the City Council’s Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure (MSFI) Committee meetings, held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Those meetings are open to the public and are streamed and recorded on YouTube.

Coffee and Hard Hats

When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Where: Keene Transportation Center, 12 Gilbo Avenue

Who: Residents, downtown business owners and all interested community members

Cost: Free and open to the public