KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) With downtown construction continuing around Central Square and several other infrastructure projects moving forward across the city, Keene Public Works Director Don Lussier provided an update on the work during an appearance on WKBK Radio’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell Friday.

Lussier discussed the latest progress on the Main Street reconstruction project, the challenges crews have encountered underground, completed improvements elsewhere in Keene and projects planned for the coming months.

One of the immediate priorities downtown is completing as much of the underground utility work around Central Square as possible before winter weather forces a seasonal slowdown.

New water mains have been installed and tested, and businesses in the area have been connected to the new system. Crews are now working on sewer replacement, moving from Roxbury Street toward Washington Street, with work expected to reach the area near Davis Street during Thanksgiving week.

A nighttime water-main connection is also planned, potentially affecting apartments and other customers near Central Square, Roxbury Street and Washington Street. Lussier said residents and businesses are being advised that the work could take two nights, although crews hope to complete it in one.

“They’re going to keep working as long as possible, and if they can, they’re going to get all of that underground work around Central Square done,” Lussier said.

The goal is to finish the water, sewer and drainage improvements around the square before winter. If construction must pause, trenches will be temporarily patched and equipment removed from the downtown area. Lussier said the streets will look much as they did before construction, although temporary pavement and patches will remain.

The project has also presented some unexpected challenges beneath the streets, particularly with telecommunications infrastructure that was not accurately reflected in existing utility records.

“It’s just an absolute maze of telecommunication conduit through that area,” Lussier said, explaining that crews have relied on vacuum excavators to locate the conduits and work around them.

Looking ahead, the city hopes to have the work in Zone One, encompassing Central Square, and Zone Two, south of Emerald Street, fully completed by the end of next construction season. Underground utilities in Zone Three are also targeted for completion during that period, with above-ground improvements in that section expected to follow in 2028.

Lussier also discussed a proposed raised crosswalk as part of the downtown improvements. Before moving forward, the city plans to construct a temporary asphalt speed table at the Public Works Department facility so the Keene Fire Department can test how its vehicles handle the raised surface.

“We want them to be able to do it comfortably and not destroy the vehicle,” he said.

Another significant infrastructure issue involves the 16-inch water main along Water Street, which was installed in 1957 and has experienced recurring breaks.

The City Council recently approved moving the inspection project forward in its capital improvement planning process. A contract has now been approved for a detailed assessment of the pipe, extending from the water tank on Roxbury Road to Park Avenue.

Lussier said the inspection should help determine whether the breaks are concentrated in a particular area because of localized soil conditions or whether the pipe itself may have a more widespread material problem.

“We’re concerned that maybe that there’s bad pipe — that we got a batch of bad material or something — but so far the breaks have all been in a relatively small area,” he said.

Depending on the findings, the city could pursue a major replacement project or make more limited repairs.

“We won’t know until we do that inspection,” Lussier said.

Beyond downtown, Lussier highlighted several projects that have recently wrapped up or are nearing completion.

The Island Street and Marlboro Street projects are finished, although some pavement markings on Marlboro Street still need to be corrected.

“Marlboro Street, after seven years of talking about it, is finally done,” Lussier said.

The new Heritage Rail Trail has also opened following a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. Lussier praised the finished project and encouraged residents to visit.

“That project came out really beautifully. If folks haven’t checked it out yet, it’s worth a walk,” he said.

The George Street Bridge is expected to reopen to traffic by the end of November, once crews finish installing railings and paving. Additional work will be completed next construction season.

Other completed improvements include approximately 3,000 feet of sidewalk replacement, paving on Court Street and a major drainage project near Key Road. The latter involved replacing a large metal drainage pipe with a concrete box culvert.

Looking ahead, crews are working on the Robin Hood Pool rehabilitation project, with demolition expected to be completed before winter and rehabilitation work resuming in the spring. Construction on a cemetery expansion is also getting underway, including roadway clearing, grading and drainage improvements.

Lussier also addressed the West Street Dam, where future work remains on hold while the city awaits a deficiency letter from the state following a change to the dam’s hazard classification.

One option under consideration has been removing the dam, but Lussier expressed reservations about what that could mean for the surrounding park and pond.

“I think that that would have a really adverse impact on the park, so I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that option,” he said.

He noted that installing fish ladders could potentially provide fish passage while allowing the pond to remain.

The city is also continuing to look ahead to major road projects, including Winchester Street, which is currently scheduled for 2031. However, the bridge portion could potentially be advanced, and preliminary design work for the West Street project could begin within the next year.

While next year’s paving program does not currently have dedicated funding beyond the downtown project, additional sidewalk improvements are anticipated.

Lussier’s Friday appearance provided residents with an overview of the substantial amount of infrastructure work underway in Keene, as well as what to expect as downtown construction moves into its winter break and additional projects get underway.

Listen to the full interview: