KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) City crews are responding to a water main break on Carpenter Street, prompting the closure of the roadway to through traffic Friday.

According to the City of Keene Public Works Department, Carpenter Street is closed between Church Street and Kingsbury Street while crews work at the site. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area and use an alternate route while the repair is underway.

The city has not yet released information about the cause of the break, whether nearby properties are experiencing a loss of water service or how long the road closure is expected to remain in place.

The break is occurring in an area where the city has previously identified aging water infrastructure as a concern.

The city’s broader water-main rehabilitation program has been aimed at reducing breaks, water loss and disruptions while improving water pressure and system reliability.

The latest break follows another Keene water-main failure reported in April, when a break on Water Street closed the road between Grove Street and Carpenter Street and caused low or no water pressure for some nearby customers. That incident was also notable because it came less than a year after a major water-main rupture in July 2025 that caused widespread pressure loss and led to a temporary boil-water advisory.

City of Keene Public Works Department is responsible for the city’s water, wastewater, stormwater and transportation infrastructure. The department’s main office can be reached at 352-6550, while its after-hours emergency number is 357-9813.