KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Motorists will encounter traffic changes at dozens of locations across Keene next week as the city moves forward with a wide range of infrastructure, paving and utility projects.

The busiest activity will remain in the downtown area, where Liberty Utilities is continuing installation of a new natural gas main. Beginning Monday, crews will work on the west side of Central Square and along West Street between Main and Federal streets. Parking spaces between Winter and West streets will be unavailable while construction is underway, and traffic patterns will shift within the work zone. The West Street slip lane will also close periodically as needed. Officials expect that phase of the project to continue for about two more weeks, although roads and parking areas will reopen at the end of each workday.

Construction also continues on the Marlboro Street Reconstruction Project. Contractor Bazin Brothers will spend the week installing granite curbing and pouring new sidewalks between Main Street and Eastern Avenue. Traffic will be maintained through the area using alternating one-way traffic or shifted travel lanes during working hours.

On Appel Way, a seal-coating project is scheduled to begin Saturday morning. Access from Court Street and the nearby recreational trail will be closed while crews apply the pavement treatment. The city expects the work to wrap up by midday, allowing the trail to reopen.

Near the Keene Cinema plaza, work continues on the installation of a new box culvert behind the shopping center. Drivers should expect changing traffic patterns and restricted parking within the lot while contractor Park Construction completes the project over the next several weeks.

Elsewhere, George Street remains closed as construction advances on the bridge replacement project. Crews with New England Infrastructure Inc. are preparing the site by installing excavation support systems and relocating utilities. The bridge project is expected to last approximately four months.

Neighborhood street improvements also continue. Harrison Street will remain closed to through traffic while BC Construction completes excavation work and installs new curbing and sidewalks. Weather permitting, that work should be finished within a week.

Beginning Thursday, the same contractor will move onto Blossom Street, where excavation and sidewalk improvements are expected to continue for about two weeks. Drivers there should expect alternating one-way traffic through the construction zone.

Improvements are also underway at the Transportation Heritage Trail. Gordon’s Property Services and Maintenance continues rebuilding the trailhead on Eastern Avenue while making drainage upgrades. Trailhead parking will remain closed throughout the week, with the overall project expected to be completed in September.

Drivers using the City Hall parking garage should note that the upper level will close beginning Sunday night while a protective traffic membrane is installed. Although the work will occur overnight, the top deck will remain closed during the day for approximately one week.

Several shorter-term maintenance projects are also planned:

Westbound sidewalks on West Street between Pearl Street and the Route 12 overpass will be paved Monday, reducing traffic to one lane.

Eastbound sidewalk paving on the same stretch is scheduled for Tuesday with similar lane restrictions.
A sinkhole repair near 30 Park Ave. is planned for Thursday and Friday, with alternating one-way traffic around the work zone.

Highway crews will mow roadsides and trim vegetation throughout Ward 4 during the week, creating temporary traffic shifts where needed.

A fire hydrant replacement at the intersection of Pako and Maple avenues is scheduled for Thursday, closing Pako Avenue to through traffic for the day.

Final cleanup at the Public Works facility on Marlboro Street will temporarily relocate visitor parking to the lot near Bartholomew Court until the work is completed, which is expected by Tuesday.

City officials are asking drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to use extra caution around construction zones, obey posted traffic controls and allow additional travel time where projects are underway.