KEENE, N.H. – (MyKeeneNow) The City of Keene is inviting all businesses, property owners, and residents affected by the upcoming downtown infrastructure project to attend one of three informational meetings on June 25: 10 to 11:30 a.m., 2 to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Keene Public Library. The meetings will provide crucial details on project phasing, construction management, and offer a platform for community input to minimize the project’s impact.

Agenda Highlights are a review of work limits for all three project phases, discussion on traffic management and parking plans, and solicitation of community input on factors such as operating hours, delivery schedules, and special access needs.

The same content will be covered in all three sessions.

The full Keene City Council convened for the first time in nearly a year to review the downtown infrastructure project last Tuesday. The session focused on key elements of the preliminary design, preparing for a crucial vote next month.

The project, initiated with an approved concept last July, has advanced to a preliminary design for a three-year downtown renovation aimed at replacing outdated water, sewer, and stormwater systems under Central Square, Main Street, Gilbo Avenue, and Railroad Square.

A major discussion point at last week’s meeting was traffic patterns in Central Square, with councilors debating whether to implement one or two travel lanes in front of the United Church of Christ. Most favored a single, 20-foot lane for safety, though some councilors advocated for a two-lane option. A compromise of a 22-foot single lane that could later be split was suggested.

The council also agreed to retain the U-turn at the top of Main Street, despite some concerns about traffic congestion. Public Works Director Don Lussier proposed using dyed concrete for the protected bike lanes, which received broad support.

The project’s estimated cost is $16.9 million, with construction potentially starting next year or delayed to 2026, contingent on federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. The city is seeking approximately $13.7 million in federal grants, with plans to expand the project’s scope if successful, increasing the budget to $20.9 million.

“To make the City’s application as competitive as possible with the RAISE grant criteria, we included several elements that are not required to address the initial project purpose of utility replacement,” wrote Lussier in an email. “For example, the RAISE grant application proposes to extend the scope of the project down Main Street to the Winchester Street/Marlboro Street roundabout. This would allow connecting the proposed bike lanes with the existing bike lanes on Main Street and the planned bike lanes on Marlboro Street.”

Also, Lussier added, the grant application proposes to extend streetscape improvements and utility infrastructure down Gilbo Avenue between St. James and School Streets. This allows staff to better address the grant criteria related to economic development.

“Both additions are needed and would likely occur at some point in the future but are not critical to the downtown infrastructure project,” wrote Lussier.

The Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee will revisit the project on June 26 for further review and recommendations. A final vote on the preliminary design is scheduled for July 18. The committee meeting on June 26 at City Hall will be open to public comments, providing another opportunity for community engagement.

Detailed information on parking, trees, bike racks, and event spaces is available in the online visualization.

For further information, visit KeeneNH.gov/downtown or contact the City of Keene’s public works department.