Good afternoon,
Here is a quick update on the progress of work this week and what you can expect to see next week. Casella Construction, Inc. focused their efforts on the northeastern end of Central Square, successfully installing new water main from Washington St. down to the south side of Central Square.
Planned Work Activities:
- Monday, September 28 through Thursday, October 1: Water main installation will continue on the south side of the Square and continuing to the west side, from the Central Square/Washington Street intersection working west to the West Street project limits. New water service connections will be made to buildings along the east side of the Square.
- Thursday, October 1: Crews will connect the new water main to the exiting main on West St, which will require a temporary water shut down for select buildings on West St. and within Central Square. Notification of affected property owners, building managers, and/or tenants will be complete no later than Monday, September 28.
- To safely complete this work, parking spaces will be temporarily closed, and drivers should expect shifted traffic patterns, road closures, and detours within the active work zone.
- Crews may work past 5:00 p.m. to utilize daylight, maximize good weather, maintain productivity, and restore traffic and parking by the end of each workday.
Parking Impacts:
- Monday, September 28 – Friday, October 2: Several parking spaces on the north, east and west sides of Central Square will be closed from 7:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the workday.
- Those parking spaces blocked with orange cones or barriers are a designated “No Parking” zone.
- Several public parking lots within a short walking distance will remain open. For locations and details, please visit the City’s Parking Services webpage.
Planned Traffic Impacts/Detours:
- Monday, September 28: The east and west sides of Central Square will be restricted to one travel lane. Northbound and southbound traffic will be maintained through Central Square.
- Tuesday, September 29 – Wednesday, September 30: Access across the north end of Central Square will be closed. Northbound traffic on Washington Street will be detoured via Union Street → Court Street.
- Tuesday, September 29 – Friday, October 2: West St. at Central Square will be closed to traffic, with detours to Gilbo Ave. Westbound/Southbound traffic through the Square will be sent south to Gilbo Ave → School St. Eastbound traffic on West St. will be detoured School St. → Gilbo Ave → Main St.
- Please note that planned construction activities and related traffic impacts may change as work progresses. Motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to stay alert, use caution, and be prepared for shifting traffic patterns throughout the project area.
Other News:
- At this week’s Municipal Safety, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee meeting, Casella Construction outlined a proposed strategy to adjust the project’s phasing. By working through the early winter, the team aims to accelerate construction across upcoming phases. While City staff are currently reviewing the details of this revised plan, community members can expect to see underground utility work begin between Water Street and Emerald Street ahead of schedule this spring. A detailed look at the finalized construction schedule will be shared in the near future.
- We recently sent out a letter to Downtown property owners as a reminder of how you can take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade your building’s accessibility and utility infrastructure while the Downtown Project is underway. If you didn’t get a copy, or if you just want to talk about how this impacts your specific property, please feel free to give me a call directly at the number below.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, please contact our Downtown Project Ombudsman, George Downing, at (603) 757-2105 or gdowning@keenenh.gov, or contact me directly at (603) 352-6550.
Have a great weekend!
Bill Siemer, P.E.
Assistant City Engineer
