KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Another phase of work is set to get underway on Island Street next week, continuing a series of improvements tied to the broader Upper Winchester Street reconstruction effort.

Starting Monday, April 13 at 8 a.m., the city’s contractor, SUR Construction West, Inc., will begin installing permanent concrete sidewalks along Island Street. The work replaces temporary asphalt walkways that were put in place before construction paused for the winter.

During active construction hours, Island Street at Winchester Street will be closed to through traffic, with a detour directing drivers to Pearl Street. Officials say normal traffic patterns will resume at the end of each workday.

The project is expected to take about six weeks to complete. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes when possible and to follow directions from traffic control personnel in the area.

The sidewalk installation is the latest step in a long-running effort to upgrade infrastructure along the Upper Winchester Street corridor. That work included underground utility improvements, roadway reconstruction, and the replacement of the Island Street Bridge, which reopened in May 2024 after being closed for more than a year.

The bridge project, part of a nearly two-year construction effort, also brought major changes to traffic patterns with the addition of roundabouts at Key Road and at the Island and Pearl Street intersection. With the bridge back open, those roundabouts began operating as designed, reshaping how traffic moves through the area.

City officials say the current sidewalk work will help complete the streetscape improvements, bringing the corridor closer to its final form after years of construction.

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