KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Work on Keene’s downtown reconstruction project is moving into another phase this week, with crews continuing utility installation in Central Square and new traffic restrictions expected beginning Monday.

Casella Construction has spent the past week working on the northern end of Central Square, where crews installed new water main and two temporary fire hydrants. Workers also extended a new irrigation feed line into the Keene Common.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 21, water main installation will shift to the east and south sides of the Square, between the Washington Street and West Street intersections. A second crew will begin preparing a sewer bypass system ahead of sewer main work on the west side of Central Square.

The work will require temporary parking closures, traffic shifts and detours. Crews may work beyond 5 p.m. when daylight and weather conditions allow in an effort to keep the project moving and restore traffic and parking at the end of each workday.

Central Square Traffic Changes

Several changes are planned throughout the week:

Monday, Sept. 21: The north side of Central Square will be closed to vehicles. Northbound traffic will be detoured from Washington Street to Union Street and Court Street.

Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 21-22: Access to Central Square from Washington Street will be closed. Southbound traffic on Washington Street will be detoured via Union Street and Court Street.

Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 22-25: The inside northbound lane through Central Square will close, leaving one northbound lane. Traffic on the north side of the Square will also be reduced to one lane.

Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 23-25: Southbound traffic through Central Square will be reduced to one lane.

Parking restrictions will also be in place. Several spaces on the north and east sides of the Square will be closed from 7 a.m. through the end of the workday Monday through Friday. Additional spaces on the west side will be closed Wednesday through Friday.

Drivers should not park in spaces marked by orange cones or barriers. Public parking lots within walking distance of downtown will remain available.

City officials said traffic patterns and construction schedules could change as crews encounter conditions in the work zone.

The downtown project is expected to continue through 2028 and includes extensive replacement of aging underground infrastructure before streetscape improvements are completed.

Other City Construction Projects

Several other projects will also be active around Keene this week.

On Marlboro Street, Bazin Brothers Trucking will continue reconstruction work between Winchester Street and Eastern Avenue. Crews will finish concrete sidewalks, install loam and rain gardens, complete landscaping and prepare the roadway for final paving. Traffic will move through the work area using alternating one-way or shifted two-way patterns.

The Marlboro Street work is expected to continue for about two more weeks, with paving planned for the end of September and overall completion anticipated in October.

The George Street Bridge will remain closed as New England Infrastructure continues installing precast bridge sections. A detour will remain in effect for the remainder of the project, which is expected to take about nine weeks.

On the Transportation Heritage Trail near Eastern Avenue, Gordon’s Property Services and Maintenance will continue installing gravel shoulders, fencing and completing cleanup around the recently paved trail and trailhead parking areas. Paving is also planned, weather permitting.

The trailhead parking lot will remain closed until pavement striping is finished and is expected to reopen by the end of the week. The project is expected to be completed in early October.

City officials are reminding motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to slow down in construction areas, follow posted traffic controls and watch for changing conditions.

Questions about the downtown project can be directed to Downtown Project Ombudsman George Downing at (603) 757-2105 or gdowning@keenenh.gov.