New Bids for Downtown Reconstruction Set for April 24 as Keene Revamps Project

Keene is now accepting new bids for the downtown project after winter bids came in millions over budget.

Keene is set to accept new bids for its downtown reconstruction initiative on April 24, following a previous round of submissions that came in significantly over budget. The city had originally allocated approximately $19 million for the project, but proposals received this winter exceeded that estimate by millions, necessitating a redesign of both the timeline and project scope.

City Manager Elizabeth A. Ferland noted that the deadline for bid submissions was extended by an additional week in response to requests from contractors seeking extra time to prepare their proposals. Consequently, bids will now be submitted on the same day they are unveiled.

The public is invited to attend the bid opening. However, Ferland highlighted that no decisions will be finalized on that day. A thorough vetting process will take place first to ensure that all submissions meet the necessary requirements, followed by a review phase before any recommendations are forwarded.

On April 29, an update will be delivered to the City Council’s Municipal Services, Facilities, and Infrastructure Committee, with potential proposals for further action to be considered by the entire council in early May.

This new round of bidding comes after a winter setback when the city received only two proposals for the downtown infrastructure overhaul, each of which greatly exceeded the budget. One bid was around $28 million and another exceeded $30 million.

In response to these financial challenges, city officials modified the project to achieve cost reductions. Public Works Director Don Lussier outlined this revised strategy, which includes a variety of cuts, delays, and design alterations aimed at lowering expenditures by over $4 million, such as reducing certain project elements and postponing non-essential amenities.

Additionally, the timeline for construction has been reassessed. Initially organized over a span of three construction seasons, the project was rushed into two years at the urging of local business owners. Contractors later attributed this compressed schedule as a significant factor in the elevated costs. City staff have recommended reverting to a three-year timeline to enhance project feasibility and attract more competitive bid pricing.

The results of the upcoming bid opening will indicate whether these strategic changes will be sufficient to draw more favorable pricing and progress the long-awaited project.