Clock tower restoration begins

posted on 8/12/2022; updated: 8/15/2022

The project to rehabilitate the City Hall clock tower is now underway, and is expected to be completed in mid-November. The work will require the closure of City Hall's back parking lot. 

The contractor is mobilizing on site and will begin to erect scaffolding on the roof of the building, around the clock tower. Work will begin in earnest during the last week of August or the first week of September once the scaffolding is installed and hazardous material tests on the site are complete.

The work includes removing the building antenna, repairing and restoring the gold leaf dome, copper roofing, metal sheeting and clock faces. It also includes repair or replacement of bell tower horizontal slats (louvers), repair of wiring within the bell and clock tower and replacement of internal wooden bead board ceiling. Lastly, the work includes the restoration of the exterior dome, repairing clock hands and mechanisms, replacing clock glass on the clock face in front of the building, replacing the roof access door for the clock tower and painting all exterior surfaces.

After a competitive bid, the City Council awarded the contract to Careno Construction Co. LLC of Portsmouth for a cost not to exceed $576,000.

Parking restrictions

City Hall's back parking lot will be closed for the project's duration, starting Monday, Aug. 15; the parking lot will be used by the contractor to stage equipment.

Parking in front of City Hall on Central Avenue will also be closed for up to two weeks from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, starting Monday, Aug. 15. The closure is to facilitate the installation of staging equipment.

City Hall visitors are encouraged to utilize the free, 30-minute parking spaces in the circle in front of the Dover Public Library.

For more information about the project, contact Community Services at 603-516-6450.