KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) With the first phase of Keene’s long-awaited downtown reconstruction project set to begin later this month, Public Works Director Don Lussier sat down with Dan Mitchell on WKBK’s Open Mic program to walk listeners through what they can expect as construction gets underway.

The wide-ranging interview covers the start of work in Central Square, anticipated traffic impacts, utility upgrades, communication plans and the city’s strategy for minimizing disruptions during the multi-year project.

Construction is expected to begin around July 13 with crews working for Liberty Utilities to replace aging cast-iron natural gas mains beneath Central Square. Lussier said that initial work will have relatively minor impacts on traffic, with most activity confined to parking areas before expanding into portions of the roadway.

Casella Construction is scheduled to follow later in July, weather permitting, beginning the larger infrastructure reconstruction that includes replacing water, sewer and drainage systems, sidewalks and other underground utilities. The city expects to maintain one travel lane in each direction through downtown during construction whenever possible.

During the interview, Lussier explains how work will be completed in stages to reduce impacts on businesses and residents, noting that new water mains will generally be installed before being connected to existing systems to limit service interruptions. When water outages are necessary, the city plans to schedule major cutovers overnight whenever feasible.

Lussier also addressed several questions from the community during the program, including concerns about traffic patterns, parking, outdoor dining, tree removal and access to downtown businesses. He says only one tree in Central Square is currently planned for removal, while several new trees will be planted as part of the project and portions of the green space will actually be expanded.

The conversation also highlights how residents can stay informed throughout construction. Lussier encourages people to sign up for the city’s downtown project email updates, which will provide regular construction schedules along with immediate notifications about significant traffic changes or utility interruptions. Updates will also be shared through social media, local news outlets and public meetings.

In addition to the downtown project, Lussier provides updates on several other public works initiatives, including improvements on Marlboro Street, the Island Street bridge project, the George Street bridge replacement, rail trail upgrades, wastewater infrastructure improvements and future plans for the West Street reconstruction project and the West Street dam.

Listen to the complete interview below to hear Lussier’s detailed explanation of the project timeline, construction sequencing, traffic plans and what residents and visitors can expect as work begins in downtown Keene.

Listen to the full interview: