Report: Union construction jobsites significantly safer than non-union sites

A new study released by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) in conjunction with the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) found that union construction jobsites are much safer than their nonunion counterparts. The authors of the report analyzed data from almost 37,000 Occupational Health and Safety […]

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Spinnaker eyes February start to major Hartford office-to-apartment conversion project

Spinnaker Real Estate Partners could begin physical work transforming a massive former state office building at 55 Elm St. in Hartford by February. The Norwalk-based developer purchased the century-old, 200,000-square-foot office building in Jan. 2020 for $6.8 million. It also purchased a trio of nearby parking lots at 71 Elm St., 94 Hudson St. and […]

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Connecticut towns look to derail proposed data center projects

Gotspace Data Partners LLC, a Groton, Connecticut company, is looking to build five data centers across the state. The company is aiming to develop facilities in Wallingford, Bozrah, Groton, Norwich, and Griswold. While some officials & locals are against bringing data centers to their area, it seems the towns are mainly concerned with the company’s […]

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When will contractors see a boost of infrastructure dollars?

Part of the challenge of delivering projects is that finding labor to complete the work, especially for specialized jobs, could be difficult, leading to slower construction timelines. This shortage of workers will most likely lead to much higher labor costs just as these infrastructure projects begin to break ground, industry experts told Construction Dive. Joe […]

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Mattern Construction submits lone proposal to rehab former YMCA in Norwich

Mattern Construction, based in Baltic, submitted the lone proposal to the city by last week’s deadline to rehabilitate the decaying, mold-infested former YMCA into a new headquarters for the general contracting and management company. The proposal includes a plan to lease space the company does not need to a possible brew pub or some residential […]

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The First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Could Be a Lifeline for Struggling New England Cities

In a matter of months, workers will begin erecting 837-ft.-tall wind turbines for Vineyard Wind, the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm. When fully operational, the plant will generate 800 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 400,000 homes. More than a dozen other East Coast offshore wind projects are awaiting government approval, and the plans […]

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Master plan finds six Stamford schools in ‘poor’ condition as district considers which buildings to fix first

During a roughly 40-minute presentation by contractor SLAM Collaborative to the city’s Long Term Facilities Committee, members were given a look at which buildings need to be fixed soonest — and a plan to change the makeup of the district to include either K-5 or K-8 schools to better fit children to classroom seats. At […]

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Hartford’s Real Art Ways plans nearly $15 million expansion, biggest in history of the arts organization

Real Art Ways, the contemporary arts center in Hartford, is embarking on what is expected to be a $14.7 million expansion — the largest in its 46-year history — starting with the purchase of the Arbor Street building where the organization has leased space for more than three decades. Will K. Wilkins, RAW’s executive director, […]

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Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood, once a manufacturing powerhouse, is on the cusp of rising again as a 21st Century innovation district

The spirit of innovation is again taking wing in Parkville, with a new push by city leaders and the private sector to foster a 21st-century hotbed of startups, particularly in advance manufacturing and cost-saving technology for the insurance industry. The plans envision a neighborhood of not only early-stage companies but new apartments, more restaurants, a […]

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Feds approve another wind farm off Block Island

The Biden administration approved an offshore wind farm off the coasts of Rhode Island and New York on Wednesday as part of a plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced it approved the construction and operations of the South Fork Wind project, the department’s […]

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Developer seeks sixth floor, 30 more apartments for Derby project

The developer for the Trolley Pointe project in Derby recently submitted a revised project plan for the site of the former school photography business at 90 Main St. The project originally included 70 market rate apartments in a five-story building. But co-developer Joe Salemme said increased construction costs have led to a revised plan that […]

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Madison voters to decide on $89 million school renewal project, land buy

A resolution for a $89.2 million project that would build a new elementary school and update two other schools will be headed to referendum, after it was approved by the Board of Selectmen this week, following debate over how the project should be funded. The Madison School Renewal Plan would allocate $61,150,000 for the construction […]

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The public contractors poised to benefit most from infrastructure funding

The morning after the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed the House of Representatives earlier this month, dozens of stocks tied to construction experienced a boost, with some funds even passing record highs, according to CNBC. “I think this is going to be a rising tide for most construction firms that are involved in various […]

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Pratt & Whitney reaches agreement to sell 300-acre former airfield near Rentschler Field

East Hartford jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to sell its 300-acre former airfield to a Massachusetts-based development and investment firm, which plans to use the site for unspecified commercial development. Commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE, which was involved in facilitating the deal, said […]

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Infrastructure act likely to spur higher construction wages

Supply for skilled construction workers has not met demand for decades, and now, that demand is going to increase. Among other issues, this will mean that contractors will have to pay their onsite workers more, experts told Construction Dive. The supply and demand issue will be exacerbated by the influx of infrastructure projects, Joe Natarelli, […]

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Connecticut facing snowplow driver shortage as winter nears

Already facing higher fuel and salt prices, the state of Connecticut is looking for snowplow drivers to fill a shortage as winter approaches. The state department of transportation is seeking to hire nearly 140 more drivers to address a 13% driver shortage, The Day reported. DOT spokesperson Kafi Rouse told the newspaper the shortage is […]

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Mystic Aquarium announces $2.5M for energy efficiency projects

Mystic Aquarium is investing $2.5 million into energy efficiency projects it says will reduce the facility’s electricity costs and lessen its carbon footprint. Aquarium officials said they’ve already completed the replacement of certain equipment in animal habitats, energy-monitoring equipment and lights, and are now moving forward with plans to install solar panels and improved HVAC […]

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NEBCO, hotel target West Haven’s Savin Rock with $20M to $35M plans

The targeted site is the vacant, blighted Savin Rock Conference Center and the city is in the procress of learning more about development proposals. The proposed brewery would invest $20 million to $25 million; the hotel would involve an investment of $30 to $35 million, representatives of the unrelated plans told city officials. The purchasing […]

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12 Bridgeport developments to watch out for in 2022

Now in its third phase, a once decaying row of former factories along Cherry Street and Howard Avenue in the West End is seeing new life. The venture includes the eventual reuse of the former Graphophone Company complex, a rehabilitation that represents a nearly $1 billion investment over six or seven years. The next phase […]

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New Haven officials back major Long Wharf housing plan: It will help the city ’embrace the shoreline’

The Board of Alders has approved a zoning text amendment to a Planned Development District at 501-585 Long Wharf Drive that paves the way for the proposed apartments on the site. Multiple alders have expressed confidence in the vision of city staff and the developer, the Fusco Corp., that growth in the harbor district was […]

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Lamont: Multistate climate bill joins tolls in the dustbin for 2022

Now, rising gasoline prices, the flood of pandemic relief and infrastructure money and the 2022 elections have made any thought of tolls or thee climate measure politically impossible. Lamont in an interview late Monday night after returning from President Joe Biden’s signing of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill outside the White House, said that the […]

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Next door to Danbury’s sprawling Summit complex, plans for a warehouse headquarters in the wetlands

As the city works with the owner of the sprawling Summit office complex to build a school for 1,400 upper grade students, a New York-based moving and storage company has plans to build a warehouse headquarters just to the west. The plans by Clancy Moving Systems to build a 190,000-square-foot warehouse and associated buildings on […]

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State starts long-awaited Route 202 project in Brookfield to alleviate ‘horrendous’ traffic

Construction was slated to begin this summer, but was pushed back to November. For the past six years, this roughly $8.5 million state project has been in the planning and design phase, according to Greg Dembowski, community development specialist. Approved upgrades, paid for by state and federal funds, include sidewalks, bus shelters, and left-turn lanes […]

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Gov. Ned Lamont says he will no longer push for climate change legislation that Republicans say could raise gasoline prices. Governor also repeats opposition to tolls.

Lamont, a Democrat, said his reasons were pragmatic for cooling on the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a regional plan to reduce greenhouse gases that was once at the heart of his effort on climate. At a later appearance in East Hartford, Lamont said that gasoline prices had reached a seven-year high and there was not […]

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‘We’re not gonna be doing tolls. Period’: Historic bipartisan infrastructure bill means no tolls in CT, Lamont says

The $1.2 trillion plan – which passed the House last week – will bring more than $5 billion in investments to Connecticut. More than half a billion for bridge replacement and repairs, and $3.5 billion for highways. Never before in state history has Connecticut received such a substantial amount of money from Washington D.C. During […]

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Biden signs $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, fulfilling campaign promise and notching achievement that eluded Trump

President Biden on Monday signed a sweeping $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill to upgrade the nation’s roads, bridges, water systems and broadband, touting the measure’s passage as evidence for his insistence that bipartisanship can work even in a bitterly polarized time. The bill finally passed the House earlier this month on a 228-to-206 vote, with 13 […]

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TCI a Needed Source of Matching Dollars for Infrastructure, Says Environmental Watchdog

According to a report compiled by Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the state may need a billion dollars in matching funds to qualify for federal funding for low-emission rail and bus infrastructure, highway and road upgrades to reduce crashes, and electric vehicle charging. “Rather than reducing the need for TCI-P, this federal spending […]

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New London to hold public meetings on community recreation center

The city has scheduled two forums to allow for public input on plans for the regional community recreation center planned for construction at Fort Trumbull. The City Council has approved $30 million in bonding for the project and a community center task force last month reviewed options for the facility presented by Silver/Petrucelli + Associates, […]

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Here’s what those drones over New Haven’s Pearl Harbor bridge are doing

They are taking photos of the bridge’s surfaces, including cracks first noticed in 2017, which have yet to be repaired or sealed, according to state Department of Transportation officials. The project to repair the cracks and breaks in the concrete, which officials say do not threaten the safety of the bridge, is scheduled for 2024, […]

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CT to get $52.5M for EV charging stations

Connecticut is in line to receive $52.5 million from the recently passed federal infrastructure bill to help expand its electric vehicle charging network. That figure, provided this week by the office of U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., would be funneled into electric vehicle charging stations, as well as other infrastructure needed to support the state’s […]

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$100 million in federal funds to go toward restoring, preserving Long Island Sound

With the passage of a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal last week, $106 million has been allocated to restore and preserve Long Island Sound. The $106 million will supplement the Long Island Sound Geographic Program, which supports the Long Island Sound Study. The study is funded by federal and state dollars through a joint effort […]

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Newtown rezones 40 acres of industrial land to allow 170 age-restricted apartments for seniors

A Greenwich developer’s plans to build 170 age-restricted apartments for seniors on town-owned industrial land took an important step forward when Newtown agreed to rezone the property, clearing the way a final detailed review of the multimillion-dollar deal. Newtown in August reached a deal to sell the property to Teton Capital Co. of Old Greenwich […]

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That vexing downtown New Haven detour is going away

The detour off South Frontage Road will be gone on Wednesday morning. When it’s reopened, South Frontage will have three travel lanes. A new far-left fourth lane will be closed to accommodate construction of 101 College St., according to a release. Over the summer and into the fall, drivers using the detour off South Frontage […]

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Brookfield’s new school pushes start date after supply chain, material delays

Significant supply chain delays for the school construction project have led officials to push back the date students will arrive in their new classrooms. The project, which was previously running on schedule, is now at least three to four months delayed after officials learned that essential roofing material expected to arrive in November is now […]

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$1.25 trillion infrastructure package approved by Congress will fix some of Connecticut’s biggest transportation headaches. Here’s a look at some of the specific projects.

The Connecticut Congressional delegation hailed the passage of the $1.25 trillion bill as they stood Monday on the train platform at Hartford’s Union Station. They were surrounded by construction workers who will be building the projects that include railroads and highways, among others. Connecticut would receive $5.38 billion over the next five years or approximately […]

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Here’s what Connecticut will receive under the $1 trillion infrastructure bill approved by Congress

Connecticut’s all-Democratic Congressional delegation was effusive in praising passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, even after weeks of divisive and bitter infighting among liberal and moderate members of Congress. A much larger $1.75 trillion spending plan remains mired in debate and could be voted on before Thanksgiving. Although the bill does not include […]

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Good news for transportation

The bill will also mean thousands of construction jobs over the next decade, what the White House called a “blue collar blueprint” for decades-delayed repair and enhancement of the nation’s infrastructure. What’s in it for Connecticut commuters? Actually, a faster ride to the West Side. By moving some LIRR trains out of Penn Station and […]

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Farmington Marriott hotel slated for apartment conversion sold for $21.5M

The former Hartford Marriott Farmington hotel, which received town approval this summer to be converted into an apartment project, has sold for $21.5 million and is now under new ownership, town records show. The seller was CLP Farmington LLC, which is controlled by Robert Schlesinger of Freeport, New York, state records show. Jason Schlesinger, who […]

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New Griswold Senior Center construction back on track after going over budget

The building, located behind McCluggage Manor, will be finished in 12 weeks, officials said. Griswold initially bonded $7.5 million in 2019 to pay for the new building. Board of Finance members first discovered the project had gone about $1.5 million over budget in January 2021. To pay for the project, the town received $411,800 in […]

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Lamont ends controversial experiment with school construction financing oversight

Gov. Ned Lamont returned oversight of the state’s massive school construction financing program Friday to the Department of Administrative Services, ending a controversial two-year experiment that had placed the venture within his budget office. “Given the departure of the former director of the office of school construction we felt it made the most sense” to […]

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Progress coming along on Steele Center project off Farmington Avenue in Berlin

Progress is coming along on the 80,000 sq. ft. Steele Center project off Farmington Avenue, a mixed-use development that broke ground in March. “We are currently under construction with 9 Steele Boulevard; the steel frame is up and wood framing is now going up,” Tony Valenti, one of the principals of Newport Realty Group, told […]

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