Exeter DPW reports Westside Drive reclamation under way; School Street rebuild and Front Street roundabout headed to bids

DPW Director Steven Cronin said the town’s Department of Public Works has finished replacing drainage and water systems on Westside Drive and began in-place road reclamation in early May.

"We started road reclamation in early May," Cronin said. He described the process as an in-place recycling that pulverizes the top layer of pavement into the road base; crews are regrading the base now and expect fine grading next week before applying a binder course of pavement.

Cronin said the binder course will be left to weather through a winter and the town plans to place the final top course in spring of 2027. He added that installation of vertical granite curb will help define the road limits and that neighborhood residents should notice a marked improvement once the pavement is down.

Cronin outlined a separate, similar reconstruction planned for the School Street area, saying the project will replace drainage, water and sewer systems, reconstruct the roadway, and add pedestrian improvements and new sidewalks on Union Street, School Street, Garfield Street and Cassoth Street. "Right now, DPW is actively reviewing bids for this project," he said, and if approvals proceed according to plan construction could begin this summer.

On a third project, the Front Street roundabout is out to bid; according to the update, bids will be opened at the June 1 Select Board meeting and reviewed. Cronin said construction on the roundabout could begin later this summer if bids come in within the funding appropriation.

The town asked residents for patience during a busy construction season and directed viewers to the municipal projects webpage for updates. The presenter provided the URL in the segment as "exitnh.gov/projects"; the town’s official site is exeternh.gov and the DPW project listings are available at exeternh.gov/projects.

The update contained schedules and procedural notes rather than final construction orders; the DPW cautioned that start dates for some projects depend on bid reviews and funding, and said residents should check the town projects page for the latest information.