Gov. Ned Lamont said plans are underway to expand hospital bed capacity in Connecticut to prepare for the anticipated surge in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, including transforming the field house at Southern Connecticut State University into a 250-bed temporary hospital. Representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have toured […]
Construction and infrastructure work, which includes paving, have been classified as essential services. Only two states, Pennsylvania and Washington, have put this work on hold. In other states, work goes on while emphasizing federal, state and local guidelines including social distancing, sterilizing work surfaces and keeping meetings to 10 people or less. Necessary precautions have […]
Project teams in New York City may be fined up to $10,000 if found working on non-essential or non-emergency construction—or if workers on projects that are allowed to continue don’t practice social distancing to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus, say new city Dept. of Buildings protocols. Essential construction includes roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, […]
Efforts to curtail the spread of coronavirus, including the shutdown of many businesses across the state, has had an immediate impact on Connecticut’s economy with more than 150,000 people out of work for now and filing for unemployment insurance. But local economists are optimistic that the long-term economical ramifications will not be as severe as […]
During a Friday afternoon board of directors meeting for the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA), which oversees Bradley, CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon touted an element of the legislation that provides $10 billion to airports, $7.4 billion of which has few strings attached. Bradley has seen a significant dropoff in passenger traffic amid the COVID-19 crisis […]
The Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance approved separate resolutions this month to borrow $5 million to pay for road work, including storm water drainage and sewer improvements, and another $1 million to make improvements at the treatment plant. The wastewater treatment plant, which is over 40 years old, is outdated, officials have said. […]
Patrick McLaughlin, director of Public works in Norwich, said it’s important for Norwich to have well-maintained bridges. McLaughlin said work on the Sunnyside Street Bridge in Yantic is expected to start on April 13. He describes the project as a rehabilitation project, preserving many of the existing features. The project cost is currently around $1.49 […]
While state and city-based shutdowns of construction sites due to COVID-19 have thrown a wrench into projects in many areas of the country, another factor is impacting general contractors: a lack of available specialty contractors, according to panelists in a Associated General Contractors of New York State webinar earlier this week. A decrease in the […]
Stephen Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, and Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, issued the following joint statement: “Government officials at all levels should treat the construction industry and the work it performs as vital and essential to the critical industries that must remain in operation. […]
The massive stimulus bill approved by the Senate and now before the U.S. House would give unemployed workers an additional $600 a week in benefits, above what they are eligible to receive from their state. Those increased benefits would continue for the next four months. In Connecticut, the maximum weekly benefit is $649. Under the […]
With $1 million for Ridgefield, money to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, and for engineering work on Route 84 exits in Danbury, a $166 million state bonding package won the support of State Rep. John Frey (R-111), despite some misgivings about some of the other spending it supports. Rep. Frey agreed with provisions in the plan […]
Traffic volume was lower by more than 43 percent on three consecutive days (March 21-23) before increasing to negative-38.6 percent on March 24, the most recent day for which statistics were available. The break in traffic is allowing the DOT to facilitate construction work on its Route 8/I-84 Interchange (Mixmaster) rehabilitation project in Waterbury, with […]
Leaders at two major building trade unions this week described an increasingly desperate economic climate for their members. Eric Dean, the president of the 130,000-member Ironworkers Union, said that 30% of his work force was “idle or sitting at home,” and that unemployment continues to rise by the day. Jim Williams, vice president and organizing […]
Phase 1 of the Columbus Commons Apartments has been completed. Located off Columbus Boulevard, the brand new Columbus Commons Apartments is a mixed-used space offering 80 apartment homes spanning five floors. The building has a fitness center, community gathering space and bike and tenant storage. In addition to the apartments, it offers 10,000 square feet […]
In a historic expansion of unemployment insurance, the federal government would give jobless workers an extra $600 a week on top of their state benefits for four months as part of the $2 trillion stimulus deal lawmakers agreed to early Wednesday. “The generosity of this benefit is unprecedented,” said Michele Evermore, senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law […]
State workers in Connecticut are processing 20 times the number of unemployment claims they normally process, a deluge caused by the coronavirus, officials said Wednesday. The agency received more than 72,000 unemployment claims in just one week, from March 13 to 20, officials said. In a more typical week there are 3,000 to 3,500 claims. […]
We’ve implemented new measures that go above and beyond in protecting workers from common sources of infection. Worksites will now be mandated to limit the number of workers in confined areas, the sharing of equipment will no longer be common, all shared areas will be sanitized with the highest industry standards for infectious disease control, […]
As the number of Connecticut residents testing positive for the novel coronavirus continues to increase, legislative leaders decided to postpone the legislative session until at least April 13. Eleven days ago legislative leaders shut down the state Capitol, Legislative Office Building, and Old State House, and expected to keep them closed to the public until […]
Shelton’s city landscape is changing. Construction has begun on two new developments with retail and apartments downtown. Plans are moving forward on adding apartments along Canal Street, and Fountain Square on Bridgeport Avenue will add an eighth hotel and numerous restaurants and retail shops. All the development comes with a need for more parking and […]
Lamont’s latest executive order affects more than two-thirds of Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns. In these communities it gives the board of selectmen — and not a town meeting or a referendum — final authority to approve spending levels and local mill rates. The governor’s order also directs local leaders to make options available for […]
New Haven hired Milone & Macbroom to provide a series of services, including designing plans to stabilize shoreline at River Walk Park as part of a larger effort to improve the shoreline in the Lloyd Street area, attorney Deborah Monteith Neubert alleged on behalf of the city in the suit. The effort, known as the […]
Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative leaders are working on creating an economic stimulus package amid the coronavirus pandemic, and much of it could be implemented by Lamont through executive orders under his sweeping powers in an ongoing public health emergency. If the two sides finalize an agreement, lawmakers said that the social distancing required to […]
State Pier operator Gateway has extended the deadline for port tenants to move out, giving commercial fishermen and a major local road salt distributor an extra four months to find a new home. The extension is not coronavirus related, rather the result of negotiations among Gateway, the Connecticut Port Authority and tenants who were expecting […]
Unlike office employees who take their laptops and smart phones home to help tamp down the spread of coronavirus, workers in factories, warehouses, construction sites and prisons must stay put. Construction companies have put similar plans in place, said Don Shubert, president of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association, which represents large commercial construction companies. Job […]
The project, deemed a top priority to evaluate, renovate or close some of the city’s 15 aging and costly school buildings, would have to be put to voters in a referendum in a year or two. The new committee is not expected to meet until May, and officials are unsure whether the initial meetings will […]
Construction continues on transportation projects throughout the U.S., but transit and airport groups have called for federal aid in the wake of rapidly decreased revenue from falling ridership due to the coronavirus, with warning of potential long-term erosion of capital programs. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on March 17 requested from Congress $12.9 billion […]
While Boston, and now neighboring city, Cambridge, have been the only U.S. cities to officially stop all construction, other areas are under orders that ban nonessential services, causing some construction leaders to wonder whether their work is considered essential or not. Contractor reaction to the threat of potential construction shutdowns has been mixed, with some […]
About 200 new residencies are expected to be filled by the end of the year, according to Bill Carroll, the city’s director of the Department of Economic Development. “The unexpected growth in residential and businesses is a good sign.” “In some ways, we’re keeping ahead of the curve in terms of getting both residential and […]
The Harbor Yard Amphitheater, which is being built to replace the old Stadium at Harbor Yard, announced Thursday that they would delay their opening until May 2021 due to supply issues with the coronavirus. Blackberry Smoke and the Deftones will now perform at Mohegan Sun on the same dates as their previously scheduled Bridgeport shows. […]
A Connecticut state bill, if passed, would require in-house Connecticut DOT (CTDOT) engineers to perform inspections on state bridge and highway construction projects, and a state employees’ union is dragging FIGG Bridge Engineers Inc. into its fight to turn the legislation into law, according to the Hartford Courant. This is just the latest challenge for FIGG after […]
The Big Apple’s construction trades workers are still showing up for work — sometimes even while sick — putting new pressure on City Hall to close down job sites as it battles the spread of coronavirus, The Post has learned. When asked if the Mayor Bill de Blasio supports a construction moratorium, his spokeswoman Freddi Goldstein […]
About 10,000 claims were filed Monday and nearly 12,000 more came in Tuesday, bringing the number to 30,000 since Friday. The typical number is 3,000 to 3,500 a week, a spokesman said. “I’ve never seen anything like this,’ said Deputy Commissioner Daryle Dudzinski, who has been at the Labor Department since 1992. “It’s unbelievable.” The […]
Construction work begun recently on Meadow Street is part of a $19.1 million project to refurbish Jackson, Meadow and Freight Street. The project is intended to help the city entice development in a roughly 70-acre area around Freight Street. It’s funded with a $14.4 million federal grant and $4.7 from city taxpayers. Upgrades to Freight […]
The town has hired O&G Industries to be the construction managers for its upcoming elementary school project. First Selectman Steve Dunn said O&G was the most qualified bidder and has done a number of projects. The bid came in at $3.8 million, he said. The town has already hired Tecton Architects to be the architect […]
Ideanomics told investors on Monday that it has identified the FinTech Village at the former West Hartford UConn campus as a “non-core asset” and is “evaluating its strategies for divesting of this asset.” Slipped into its annual earnings filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the disclosure came as Ideanomics reported a $98.5-million loss […]
Coronavirus has cleared Stamford schools of children through at least April 10, allowing the city to do much-needed mold remediation work in the buildings. Ongoing work at Stamford High School and Davenport Ridge Elementary School will continue, and cleanup efforts at Toquam Magnet Elementary School have been bumped up to this week. Grafstein said work […]
A decision on Amazon Logistics’ plan to operate a warehouse and distribution center on South Cherry Street has been delayed as the Planning & Zoning Commission takes a closer look at traffic generated by the facility, particularly during periods of peak volume. The commission voted to table a decision on Amazon’s application until its April […]
Starting March 17, contractors and builders across the city will be required to shut down all work on construction sites, in some cases leaving skeleton crews to secure materials and monitor the sites, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced in an afternoon press conference. A former construction worker who rose to become the city’s head of […]
On Monday, Lamont ordered all Connecticut bars and restaurants to halt dine-in services, while movie theaters and gyms were also shuttered. The state’s two tribal casinos also agreed to close their doors beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday. DECD has already announced a loan forbearance program for any companies that currently have state government loans. The […]
Contractors, of course, are used to risk. From labor shortages and escalating tariffs to the upcoming presidential election, the industry entered 2020 facing many unknowns, and experts say the fallout from the COVID-19 virus is one more factor poised to affect construction firms. While there have only been a few reports of the virus directly […]
Gov. Ned Lamont will restrict gatherings of more than 50 people and order the closure of Connecticut restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, he announced Monday in coordination with governors from New York and New Jersey. The mandate will begin at 8 p.m. tonight and remain […]
Glastonbury-based Gemma Power Systems will quarterback engineering, procurement and construction work on a major power plant to be built in Killingly starting later this year. Gemma, a subsidiary of Maryland’s Argan Inc., said Thursday that it won the contract from the plant’s developer, NTE Energy LLC. Approved by the Connecticut Siting Council last summer, the […]
Under study since 2007, the deepening of New Haven Harbor is expected to get final approval by the U.S. Army Corps next month now that the state has agreed to bond its $25 million share of the major project’s cost. The cost is $72.311 million, with 75 percent of that picked up by the federal government. The […]
Democratic and Republican leaders are scheduled to confer together on March 23 on plans for proceeding after the two-week hiatus ordered Thursday because of the ongoing public health emergency ends on March 30. There is much unfinished legislative business, and it is it is unclear what will get done and what will have to wait […]
The Connecticut Water Company is bringing new water lines to several beach communities this year, including Sound View, where work began this week. The projects, outlined as part of Connecticut Water’s recent merger agreement with San Jose Water, will fund the new pipes and construction through the company’s Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment program, which […]
The state General Assembly Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a nearly $400 million bond package Wednesday that includes $7 million the town requested for the final cleanup of the former Norwich Hospital property to prepare to turn it over to Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. Mohegan tribal officials said earlier this month that the tribe expects to receive […]
The State Capitol and Legislative Office Building will be closed Thursday and Friday, and House leaders said all public hearings scheduled for next week will be canceled. But Senate and House leaders were uncertain at mid-afternoon about how they could continue the public’s business if the public cannot come to the Capitol. House Speaker Joe […]
Voters approved a plan to build a $2.24 million tank that is meant to increase storage and ensure water is cleaner. Residents voted 660 to 240 in favor of the 500,000-gallon Chestnut Ridge tank in Tuesday’s referendum, according to unofficial results. Money for the project would come from water customer rates, not taxpayer funds. Grants […]
The state House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday afternoon for a combined $3 billion in new state borrowing over two years to fix public schools, improve transportation, help ensure clean drinking water, upgrade the XL Center in Hartford and respond to the spreading coronavirus outbreak. The bipartisan bill passed 126-21 with four members absent. Only […]
Women make up 50% of the U.S. labor force but less than 10% of the construction workforce and savvy construction leaders are using a range of ideas to attract more of them to their companies. According to hiring experts, women are looking for the same things as their male counterparts, such as a good salary, […]
A Department of Labor rule issued yesterday that will help expand apprenticeships in the U.S. leaves out programs that seek to train apprentices to perform construction work. Those groups instead can continue to participate in a separate Registered Apprenticeship Program. The rule establishes a system for advancing the development of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs), a […]
Residents voted 660 to 240 in favor of the 500,000-gallon Chestnut Ridge tank in Tuesday’s referendum, according to unofficial results. The tank would be installed in the woods between Long Meadow Lane and Briar Cliff Manor, despite slight opposition from some residents. Construction could start in the spring, with the tank going online in nine […]
The state’s long-delayed bond package of more than $1 billion for construction projects could be approved as soon as next week, Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday. After millions of dollars were bottled up for more than eight months, Lamont called recently for releasing $625 million for cities and towns that includes $60 million for improving […]
In a contentious debate over approving plans and cost estimates for the Memorial Boulevard Intradistrict Arts Magnet School project, some newer Board of Education members sought to delay approval, which the project backers warned could have derailed the entire project. The city and school board are collaborating on the project to transform the closed school […]
With a toll bill stalled in the legislature, Republican leaders are touting two transportation plans they say would provide sufficient funding to address the state’s infrastructure needs over the next decade, but critics argue both plans rely too much on draining budget reserves. Like Senate Republicans, Klarides’ proposal would rely on dollars from the Rainy […]
The city of Hartford on Wednesday announced it signed a development agreement with the Stamford developer planning to build a $200-million housing and retail project on city-owned land surrounding downtown’s Dunkin’ Donuts Park. The deal between the city and RMS Cos., led by founder and CEO Randy Salvatore, keeps the Downtown North (DoNo) project on […]
Members of the Board of Representatives Monday night voted to reject an appropriation of $250,000 to hire a consultant to evaluate proposals from developers interested in becoming the city’s private partner. Representatives reiterated their skepticism about the privatization plan, which would turn over 1 million square feet of school space – a third of the […]
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission developed the 71-page plan relying on feedback from about 2,000 people that participated in public meetings and surveys tailored to asking residents how they view Hartford today and how they want the city to evolve over the next 15 years. A number of recommendations were identified in the plan […]
The work will involve rebuilding a little more than a half-mile of the roadway, from Route 9 to Shunpike Road, and will include installation of new drainage as well as the construction of sidewalks along the east side of the road. The project will cost $2.075 million and is being funded by a combination federal/state […]
Proposed roundabouts on Route 82 would improve traffic flow, reduce crashes, and make the 1 1/4-mile strip more inviting to customers of the many businesses, but some businesses would be displaced and others would see their properties reduced by eminent domain takings, according to testimony at a public hearing Monday night. The comments were made […]
The Connecticut Department of Transportation will build a new rail station in Windsor Locks after receiving a $17.4 million federal grant, officials said. The new station will be located in Windsor Locks’ downtown area, about a mile north of a platform that currently serves as a stop on CTrail’s Hartford Line. Additionally, the town recently […]
Seeking to bolster its finances and meet rising demand for dementia and Alzheimer’s care, New Britain’s Jerome Home hopes to break ground next month on a $10-million expansion. Administrators of the 88-year-old nonprofit skilled nursing and assisted living facility, located along Corbin Avenue, are pursuing a borrowing as high as $20 million through the Connecticut […]
Mohegan tribal officials say Gov. Ned Lamont assured them Monday that the state will soon act on an additional $7 million in bonding for the environmental cleanup of the former Norwich Hospital property in Preston, a nearly 400-acre site the tribe has long hoped to develop. In an earlier session Monday with reporters at the […]
Rail boosters hope the newly formed Waterbury Rail Line Caucus will galvanize support for upgrades to the 27-mile rail line between the Brass City and Bridgeport. The group’s action plan includes new rail stations with amenities, a transfer station in Devon and a study into the possibility of extending the Waterbury line to Torrington. The […]
Those who work on Connecticut’s highways made a passionate pitch Friday for a bill that would allow the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices within maintenance work zones. The bill would allow cameras to be placed in work zones where there are no police officers on duty starting next January. The cameras will be […]
Board of Representatives member Nina Sherwood, Board of Education member Mike Altamura and Board of Finance member Kieran Ryan in an op-ed this week have called for a referendum on the issue. The public-private partnership idea involves selling five aging public school buildings to a private developer for $1 each. The developer would then demolish, […]
