Concord Main Street Project Delayed

The first steps of the new $12 million Concord Downtown Complete Streets project has been pushed back by about two weeks, according to City Manager Tom Aspell.

In his weekly newsletter and in an email memo from his administrative assistant to press outlets, Aspell stated that preparation for underground utility work that was expected to begin next week would actually be starting the week of Sept. 15.

“This will include the placement of construction signage and staging of construction equipment,” he said. “Utility construction will begin the week of Sept. 22.”

Two-way traffic will be maintained and delays during construction should be “minimal,” he noted, with pedestrian travel largely unaffected.

Streetscape reconstruction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015 until Veterans Day; the South Main Street portion of the project will be constructed in 2016.

On Sept. 8, the Concord City Council will consider a proposal by Ward 2 City Council Allan Herschlag requesting city staffers to create a process where individuals and business can come to the city about concerns about damage from construction that has occurred to their property. The issue was raised after concerns related to recent issues that have arisen around the Route 3 construction project in Penacook Village, including the construction of the rotary. The request is on the consent agenda to be referred to Community Development.