Multiple Keene Projects Will Disrupt Traffic This Week

Some of the most disruptive jobs involve full or partial closures.

Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in Keene should expect a busy week on city streets as a slate of construction, paving and maintenance work gets underway or continues across town.

The city’s Highway Division is also moving its 2026 WOW program into Ward 5. Starting Monday, crews will be trimming trees, clearing brush and mowing along streets maintained by the city. Travel patterns may shift near active work areas as the week goes on.

Some of the most disruptive jobs involve full or partial closures. George Street remains shut down for the bridge replacement project, where New England Infrastructure Inc. is continuing with excavation support and utility work. The closure is expected to stay in place for about 15 weeks while the project moves forward.

Wilson Street is set for a two-day closure beginning Thursday, Aug. 6. Vortex will be lining storm drains north of Emerald Street, which will keep the roadway closed to through traffic during the operation.

On Harrison Street, BC Construction is continuing sidewalk installation. That stretch will be closed to through traffic while crews are on site, but the street is expected to reopen each day once work wraps up. The sidewalk portion is projected to be finished this week if weather cooperates.

Downtown, work in Central Square will continue Monday as Liberty Utilities installs a new gas main on the west side near West Street. West Street will be closed while crews are active there, with detours used as needed. The road and nearby parking spaces are expected to return to normal at the end of each workday.

Additional infrastructure work is underway at several other locations. On Key Road, Park Construction is installing a box culvert behind Keene Cinema Plaza and carrying out drainage improvements in the Staples and Keene Cinema plazas. Parking and lane access may be limited or redirected for roughly the next three weeks.

The Marlboro Street reconstruction project between South Street and Dartmouth Street is also continuing. Bazin Brothers is expected to install curbing and pour sidewalk there, with traffic managed by alternating one-way movement or temporary two-way routing through the work zone.

At the Eastern Avenue Transportation Heritage Trail trailhead, Gordon’s Property Services and Maintenance is rebuilding the trailhead and adding drainage. Parking at that location will not be available this week, and the work is expected to continue for several more weeks before wrapping up in October.

The City Hall parking garage remains closed while Structural Preservation Systems finishes concrete repairs ahead of a traffic membrane installation. The city is aiming for a reopening around Aug. 17, depending on weather.

Paving work is also scheduled in two places. On Monday, crews are expected to pave near 19 Aldrich Road for one day, with alternating one-way traffic in place while work is underway. Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 4, the city plans to pave the West Street sidewalks west of the NH Route 9/12 overpass, a job expected to take two days with traffic alternating through the area.

Officials are urging motorists to reduce speed in work zones, follow posted directions and watch carefully for workers and others nearby.