Central Square work may miss 2024 finish as utility phase starts next week

A later-than-usual start is the reason the square will not be completed in November.

Keene’s downtown infrastructure overhaul is now expected to run past this year’s finish target in Central Square, according to a contractor who gave an update Wednesday. The project has already faced a series of delays, and the latest schedule slip means the above-ground portion will likely wait until next year.

Brian Rossier, superintendent at Casella Construction, said crews are set to begin replacing sewer and water mains underground next week, with that phase expected to wrap in November. He said the timing leaves too little room to complete sidewalk and other surface-level work before the end of the year.

The city’s original plan called for the first phase, which covers all of Central Square, to be done by the end of this year. But the start was pushed back after bidding issues delayed the project until July, when Liberty Utilities began gas line work. Rossier said that later-than-usual start is the reason the square will not be completed in November.

The city’s award of the construction contract also came later than usual. Instead of the late March or early April start window that is typical for this kind of work, the City Council did not approve the contract until late May.

Public Works Director Don Lussier said Casella is still bound by contract to complete the work by December 2028, even if parts of the job stretch farther into the future. He added that the overall downtown project should remain on track for its 2028 deadline, though some final details could spill into spring 2029.

The update was delivered during Wednesday morning’s monthly public meeting in Central Square, a session normally held at the transportation center on Gilbo Avenue and intended to explain plans and gather feedback. Lussier also said tree removal will begin Thursday. Crews are set to cut down 18 trees, and three will be replanted at the public works facility on Marlboro Street.

Next week, drivers and pedestrians should expect to see heavy equipment, including large trucks and excavators, Rossier said. Wheeled machinery will return at night to the staging area on Gilbo Avenue, while other equipment may stay in Central Square overnight and be grouped together to preserve travel lanes.

The $28 million project is designed to replace aging underground pipes throughout downtown Keene along Main Street from Central Square to just before the Main-Marlboro-Winchester streets roundabout. It also includes above-ground changes such as protected bike lanes and raised crosswalks.

The contract was awarded after the city spent months cutting costs to make the project more affordable. Initial bids in December came in at least $8 million above the $20 million budget. After the city lowered its estimate to $24 million and rebid the job, Casella’s proposal still came in around $26 million. Another $2 million was set aside for extra contracts and the project ombudsman’s pay, bringing the total to $28 million.

Dorrie Masten, who owns The Pour House on Central Square, said in a Facebook message Wednesday that she does not trust the city’s projected schedule. She has repeatedly raised concerns about the effect of the project on downtown businesses. Other Central Square business owners were not immediately available Wednesday.