BEDFORD — As construction projects come to a close for the winter, road widening and paving in the area of Route 114 and Donald Street near the new Market Basket site should be completed on schedule, officials said.

The town is working in conjunction with the state DOT to complete road work in different areas of the project, said Jim Stanford, Director of Public Works.

“A lot of the work is in the state DOT right-of-way,” Stanford said, but noted that work on Donald Street south of Cote Lane, just past the entrance to the Market Basket site, is being done by the town.

The town was able to schedule paving work on Cote Lane at roughly the same time as other paving projects, saving the town some money in the budget, Stanford said.

Work is scheduled for completion by early November, Stanford said.

“The important thing with asphalt is the temperature,” he said. “As long as the ground isn’t frozen, work can still be done.”

According to Planning Director Rick Sawyer, Market Basket is funding all of the road improvements in the area, from the Donald Street roundabout to Route 114.

“They’ve added an additional lane on 114 going toward Goffstown, and one at New Boston Road,” Sawyer said. “All of the road construction you see going on is being done by Market Basket.”

While he doesn’t have an exact figure, Sawyer said he estimates the grocery chain has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the road improvements.

Though funded privately, both the town and state need to inspect the work, Sawyer said.

“They have to build to town and state standards, but it is at their expense,” he said.

Sawyer acknowledged the construction has tied up traffic in the area, notably on Route 114 during peak commute times, but said the improvements made now will not only address current traffic concerns, but future volume generated by the store’s presence as well.

“It’s really tight quarters out there, especially at New Boston Road; there isn’t a lot of room to maneuver,” Sawyer said, but he added that traffic will be much better once the project is complete.

“I would say people should not judge it until it’s done,” he said.

Two lawsuits filed by competitor Hannaford Brothers to block Market Basket from opening are still unresolved. Sawyer said if the courts find in favor of Hannaford, the current Market Basket site will have to be returned to a field, but the road improvements would remain.

kremillard@newstote.com