New traffic pattern begins Monday through downtown

Phases 1 & 2 of the bridge construction in Downtown Laconia is complete, and traffic will once again be able to travel north on Beacon Street East; the entrance to the free downtown parking garage will again be accessible from that direction. This is the official update from the director of the Laconia Public Works Department, Paul Moynihan:

"On Monday, August 18th adjustments at the work site on Main St. for the Phase 3 traffic lane configuration will take p...lace. This will involve removing of remaining concrete islands and shifting of concrete barriers such that the Main St. north bound traffic lane will be “jogged over to the right” in accordance with the Phase 3 Detour Plan. At this time, Beacon St. East will be re-opened to one-way north bound traffic. Phase 3 Traffic Pattern will be fully operational during the day Monday, August 18th.

From this point forward, access to the Laconia Parking Garage will be via Beacon St. East only. A unique feature of the Phase 3 work is the requirement to close-off the connection from Beacon St. West to both Main St. (north of the bridge) and Beacon St. East. This is necessary in order for the section of the bridge along this connection route to be fully re-constructed. Beacon St. East and Main St. (north of the bridge) will be fully accessible via Main St. running north bound from the Court St. Union Ave. Intersection. Motorists will need to plan their maneuvering the work site accordingly."

You can find detour maps here and regular updates and photos here. By mid-November the first 3 phases of construction will be done, in time for holiday shoppers to visit all of the downtown businesses conveniently. Meanwhile, don't let the detours get you down - downtown is open, and worth getting to. You can always call a local business directly and get detailed directions from your location!

 

Traffic Update for August 1st and 4th

We just heard this bit of news:

Tomorrow (Friday) and Monday (August 1 and 4) there will be limited work activity outside of the Beacon St. East/Main St. construction area.  The Contractor (R. M. Piper) will be making  modifications on the Beacon  St. West side of the bridge in preparation for the upcoming traffic shift required for the Phase 3 work on the bridge.  All efforts will be made to minimize impacts to traffic in Beacon St. West but there will be periodic stopping and/or slowing down of traffic directed by flag personnel. 

The next big traffic changes will be made in mid-August, and we'll let you know as soon as we can.

Daily pictures and updates are here.
The city updates are found here.

Happy Birthday, Dear Colonia Theatre!

Congratulations are in order! The wonderful Colonial Theatre building is 101 years old today! Come and celebrate under the marquee in beautiful Downtown Laconia with the Laconia Historic Society and others Sunday April 13th from noon to 2pm. Share visions and memories - and Happy Birthday, Dear Colonial!

Main St Bridge Update 4/4/14 - NOTE SATURDAY CONSTRUCTION!

 

 

 

The first full week of construction is coming to an end, and here is today's update from Main Street Initiative President John Moriarty:

 

According to Paul’s [Moynihan] morning update, the general work for today is:

 

n  Demolition of sidewalks within construction zone is primary work item

 

But, please take note of this poignant item:

 

n  Contractor (R. M. Piper) crew will work Saturday (4/5) from 7:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. inside barriers of work zone

 

It appears there shouldn’t be any impact on Saturday traffic flow or pattern.  If anything think of this as an opportunity for more customers.  Construction workers will occupy parking spaces normally available on Saturday however.

 

John Moriarty, president

Main Street Initiative of Laconia

john@mymoriarty.net

voice, cell, text 603.455.2084

 

Remember, you can get connected to the Main Street Initiative on both Facebook  and Twitter, or email us to be added to the mailing list. Let us know if you have questions or concerns!

Main St. Bridge Update 4/2/2014

The latest news; there will be more later from Main Street Initiative President John Moriarty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi All – Update this a.m. (Wednesday 4/2),

 

n  Phase 1 Detour in effect
 
n  Construction Progress Meeting # 1 at City Hall today at 8:00 a.m. – Room 200-A

 

n  Bridge Work essentially confined to the Beacon St. East construction area

 

n  Work proceeding in prep for existing concrete deck removal in the Phase 1 area

 

n  Some work on the perimeter of the work zone but traffic should flow unimpeded.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please call.  -- Paul

Main Street Bridge Update 4/1/2014

You can get a close up view from the pedestrian walkway between Main St. and Beacon St. East, or a bird's eye view from the second floor of the parking garage.

 

 

From Main Street Initiative President John Moriarty:

 

We are well into day two of the Beacon Street East detour and traffic appears to be moving fairly well.  The small exception has been when traffic slows down because of genuine interest in seeing the progress being made.  If you find yourself falling into the category of person who finds big construction projects fascinating, please take a look at our Facebook page to see Melissa’s pictures and updates.

 

There will be a presentation tomorrow morning at City Hall by the project team, at 8:00 a.m. in room 200 A.

 

As always, please forward questions to Paul, or drop me a line and I will see that they get to him.  As I am writing this, I am collating a short list to send to him.  I will post them and the answers as they are confirmed.

 

Enjoy Spring, and Paul’s update below.

 

Hi All – Update this a.m. (Tuesday 4/1),

 

n  Phase 1 Detour in effect
 
n  Bridge work will essentially be confined to the Beacon St. East construction area

 

n  Surveyor will be working securing elevation data on points around the perimeter of the bridge, at times outside of the construction zone.  Traffic should flow unimpeded.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please call.  Thanks,  -- Paul

 

 

Main Street Bridge Update 3/28/2014

Did you know that you can follow the bridge project on Facebook, and also receive real-time posts on Twitter?

 

http://twitter.com/laconiamain

 

http://facebook.com/laconiamainstreet

 

Today’s update from Paul reads like a good end to the first week of activity.

 

Hi All, -- Update this a.m. (Friday 3/28),

 

n  Work around the site will be light today

 

n  Traffic on Beacon St. East and Beacon St. West will flow freely thru the day

 

n  Closure of Beacon St. East and Phase 1 Detour will begin Monday a.m. March 31^st – Details available on City Website – Main St. Bridge

 

If you have questions or concerns, please call.  – thanks,  Paul

 

As always, you can email, call or text with questions or comments, or even if grab a cool pic of the construction while it happens!

 

John Moriarty, president

Main street Initiative of Laconia

Cell / text 603.455.2084

Email: john@mymoriarty.net

Main Street Bridge Update 3/27/2014

Thank you everybody who expressed their appreciation for our efforts to send these emails.  I am glad to hear that you are receiving them and finding them helpful.

 

In addition to forwarding the messages from the City, we at Main Street are here to collect your questions and concerns and pose them anonymously to the City.  We will then post the questions and answers here so that in the likely event that others have the same question, it will save time and effort for all concerned.

 

Such was the case Tuesday.  We forwarded a question posed to us to the City and had an answer the same day.

 

Q.  “April 1^st is the start of fishing season, and myself and scores of other anglers enjoy dropping a line off the Main Street Bridge.  Will be able to do so this April 1^st, and what about April 1^st 2015”?

 

A. “We welcome and encourage anglers to take advantage of the salmon season in areas along the banks of the Winnipesaukee River that are not closed-off as part of the active Bridge Construction Zone.  In the immediate Main St. vicinity, the Beacon Street West bridge section, the Mill St. Pedestrian Bridge, Rotary Park, Stewart Park, the area behind the Landmark Inn (and Walgreens) and the Beacon St. West Riverwalk  are all fully available to the public.

 

In the 2015 cycle, the only difference should be that Beacon St. West would be closed because of active bridge construction, but, at that time, Beacon St. East should be fully available”.

                                --thanks to Paul Moynihan for that answer.

 

Director of Public Works, Paul Moynihan has one important announcement and the daily update to share:

 

NOTE:  R.M. Piper (Contractor) has confirmed that the Phase 1 Detour will be put into effect on Monday, March 31^st during the morning hours.

 

Hi All, -- Update this a.m. (Thursday 3/27),

 

n  Traffic Island at mouth of Beacon St. East (edge of Phase 1 work area) will be removed today

 

n  Site Prep work will continue on sidewalk area at the south end of the Parking Garage and with staging set-up under the bridge on the Beacon St. east side

 

n  Crosswalk striping around the work area will be enhanced

 

n  Traffic on Beacon St. East and Beacon St. West will flow freely thru the day with only periodic delays on the Beacon St. East side

 

 

Thanks for tuning in.

 

Yours truly,

John Moriarty, president

Main Street Initiative of Laconia

Main Street Bridge Update 3/26/2014

From Laconia Main Street Initiative President John Moriarty:

 

 

Good morning everyone – I am sorry this is so late.

 

I for one really appreciate the superb communication from Paul Moynihan regarding the bridge re-decking project.

 

Here is Paul’s update for today.

 

John Moriarty, president

Main Street Initiative of Laconia

 

Hi All, --Update this a.m. (Wednesday 3/26),

 

n  Beacon St. East wing will have minor lane-narrowing (with cones) while staging is set-up under the bridge

 

n  R.M. Piper will continue removing items on the sidewalk area at the south end of the Parking Garage

 

n  Time permitting, Piper will remove the easterly Traffic Island that is located in the Phase 1 work area

 

n  Traffic on Beacon St. East and Beacon St. West will flow freely thru the day

 

Main Street Bridge Update 3/24/2014

Mar 24 at 7:26 PM

Good evening everybody,

 

In this email, The Main Street Initiative of Laconia, is conveying information released by City Hall, pertaining to the Main Street Bridge repair project.

 

You are receiving this email because you have had some connection to our efforts or events.  However, the Main Street group, is in the process of updating our email distribution system, and as such we are potentially over communicating.  Please be patient with us, as we strive to share information with those who need to have the most up to date information, while we hone our list.  We understand that this may cause a minor inconvenience in the short run and apologize for doing so.

 

You may have noticed that in addition to the original staging area specified as proximate to Rotary Riverside Park, that as of today, there is an area in the municipal parking lot that is serving as additional staging.  We will pass along to you further details as they become available.  Alternately please check the city’s website for regular posts at http://www.cityoflaconianh.org/index.php/departments/publicworks-inside/main-street-bridge-construction/today-s-update

 

The first of such posts is copied below.

 

We know this is going to be a difficult process for proprietors, employees, customers, patients and parishioners, but please remember that this is going to be a very visible step in the many that will follow, to rebuild downtown Laconia. 

 

Please feel free to share concerns or questions that you have with me on my cell phone at 603.455.2084, or by email at john@mymoriarty.net.  I will forward them through the proper channels. 

Alternately share them directly with Paul Moynihan at the Department of Public Works.

 

Yours truly,

John Moriarty, president

Main Street Initiative of Laconia.

 

 

Excerpt from the City’s website:

 

Monday March 24, 2014

RM Piper crews will be working around the job site all this week. There will be no traffic detours this week but there will be occasional short-term traffic delays on Beacon Street East as Phase I job area is being prepared. A staging area has been delineated in the City Hall parking lot. Commuters are encourage to park in the Laconia parking garage. A construction trailer will be placed in Rotary Park this week. The Phase I detour plan is anticipated to begin Tuesday April 1. Changes to that schedule will be posted here.

World Championship Sled Dog Derby!

 

Thanks to the fresh snow, conditions could hardly be better for the World Championship Sled Dog Derby happening in Laconia this weekend. If you're coming to town to check out this great event, don't forget to head into downtown to visit the shops and restaurants that are here - plenty of new things to see! For more information on the Sled Dog Derby, go to their website. To stay connected with Downtown, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter! Mush!