City urges broader turnout at November Coffee and Hard Hats session on downtown work

City officials say the informal meetings are meant to keep the public informed as construction moves through different parts of downtown.

Keene residents, downtown merchants and other interested community members will have another chance to hear directly about the Downtown Infrastructure Project when Public Works hosts its next Coffee and Hard Hats gathering on Tuesday, November 10, at 9 a.m. The session will be held at the Keene Transportation Center, 12 Gilbo Avenue, and is free and open to the public.

City officials say the informal meetings are meant to keep the public informed as construction moves through different parts of downtown and to give people a place to raise concerns before problems grow. The project, which is expected to continue through December 2028, is changing as work advances, making regular communication between the city, contractors and the public a key part of the process.

At earlier meetings, Public Works Director Don Lussier and representatives from Casella Construction, including Brian Rossier, have talked through progress, upcoming phases and issues brought forward by attendees. Topics have ranged from water and sewer installation and drainage work to paving, excavation, traffic flow, pedestrian access and the removal and transplanting of trees in Central Square.

Business owners have also used the meetings to address day-to-day concerns tied to construction, including parking, deliveries, customer access, dust, telecommunications work, event planning and possible interruptions to service. City staff say they want more than just nearby property owners to participate, since residents, workers, customers and others with an interest in downtown’s future are all welcome.

The November meeting is being held on a Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday because of the Veterans Day holiday. People who cannot attend can follow the project through email alerts from the city and updates posted on the City of Keene website.

Project information is also shared at the City Council’s Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee meetings, which are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Those sessions are open to the public and are streamed and archived on YouTube.

Coffee and Hard Hats When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 9 a.m. Where: Keene Transportation Center, 12 Gilbo Avenue Who: Residents, downtown business owners and all interested community members Cost: Free and open to the public