City officials plan to roll out several construction projects in Keene this year, including four that will break ground next month. The various projects will improve pedestrian safety, and also include sewer, drainage and road work in some parts of the Elm City. Additionally, details for two other major undertakings are being finalized.
The city is using loans from the N.H. Department of Environmental Services on two of the projects, City Engineer Bryan Ruoff said in an email to The Sentinel. Other government funds being used for upcoming work include money from the N.H. Department of Transportation.
“I think it’s really stunning the amount of work that is planned and what’s going to go on this summer,” City Councilor Mitch Greenwald said during the council’s March 6 meeting.
“When our constituents ask where’s their tax money going, they’re going to see it happening,” he added, and noted how pleased he was with a recent update on the projects from Ruoff.
The first-to-start of these projects are slated to begin next month. Two are for sewer updates in Keene, and the city was awarded DES loans to complete them. One of the projects calls for about 80 sewer manholes to be replaced in Keene, along with other work, and a second one includes plans for sewer main lining work in East Keene, Ruoff said. Both will be complete by 2027, according to an agenda packet for the March 6 meeting.
Work is also expected to start on the Marlboro Street and Cheshire Rail Trail project this April. This initiative recently went to bid for construction, and City Manager Elizabeth Ferland informed councilors that the final cost could be lower than the $1.7 million previously anticipated. “I’m optimistic,” she said during the meeting last week.
Marlboro Street is a high-volume traffic road, Ruoff noted, and he said new sidewalks and bike lanes are among features planned to help address pedestrian and bike safety issues on the street. These additions are being partially funded by the N.H. Department of Transportation, which is covering 80 percent of eligible project costs.
“The project also includes a formal connection from Marlboro Street to the existing Industrial Heritage Trail through the public works complex,” Ruoff said.
Also rolling out next month is reconstruction work on Island Street. The city has not received any grants for the $3.7 million project.
“The project replaces the City’s existing water, sewer, drain and traffic light infrastructure that are all at the end of their serviceable lives and restores the road and sidewalk condition” Ruoff said.
Key Road is also planned to have work done in the near future. According to the March 6 agenda packet, sinkholes have formed over existing storm infrastructure, which necessitated the project begin sooner than originally planned. Ruoff said the existing metal culverts have reached the end of their serviceable life.
Other plans include routine roadwork in some areas, and the city plans to replace asphalt sidewalks on Gardner Street, Jennison Street and Willow Street with concrete sidewalks with granite curbing.
As work on these projects rolls out, city officials and consultants will continue to make progress on two other major upcoming projects.
Stantec, a consultant, is working on the final design for work on Lower Winchester Street that is currently planned to break ground a little over two years from now. Plans call for roads, sidewalks and the Winchester Street Bridge to be reconstructed. Like the Marlboro Street project, this $15.1 million project will be 80 percent funded by NHDOT. Plans call for groundbreaking in 2027 and completion by 2029.
Plans for removing and replacing the George Street Bridge, which was built in 1922, are also underway and anticipated to begin this fall. NHDOT is also funding most of this project, with 80 percent of eligible project costs being funded by the state and the remaining 20 percent by the city.
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