Hartford’s Bushnell South project takes big step forward with purchase of large parking lot

Norwalk-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners exercised its option on Tuesday to buy a 90,000-square-foot parking lot at Capitol Avenue and Hudson Street for $3.25 million, according to the Capital Region Development Authority. The authority voted in January to loan Spinnaker $3 million toward the purchase, which forms a crucial piece of the Bushnell South development […]

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Work on New Haven’s State Street won’t cause traffic nightmares, city engineer says

City Engineer Giovanni Zinn says the project to make a nine-block stretch of lower State Street more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly won’t involve street closures and will ultimately improve traffic and safety. The $6.7 million project, partially funded through a $5.35 million state Department of Economic and Community Development grant, will redesign the streetscape along a […]

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Major Connecticut River bridge to get $30 million work. Your commute may be affected

The state is preparing for a $30 million refurbishment of the Bissell Bridge, a key traffic link between I-84 and I-91 north of Hartford. Precise construction plans won’t be known until engineers do final designs in 2025, but the state department of transportation is letting the public know now that some potentially major weekend detours […]

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New Haven begins reconnecting Wooster Square, Downtown, the Hill with $6.7 million State Street redesign

Work has begun on a $6.7 million State Street redesign project to transform a nine-block stretch of lower State Street and “knit back together” areas of the city that were chopped up by urban renewal, city and state officials said Tuesday. The project’s first phase will include “bump-outs” to protect pedestrians along State Street, from […]

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Proposed Trumbull veterans center gets traffic OK, bids should go out soon

Now that a traffic study has been approved by the town’s police commission, plans for the long-awaited Veterans and First Responders Center will go out to bid — and construction could break ground by April, officials say. “They are two separate bid packages but they’re going out at the same time,” said Ray Baldwin, chairman […]

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Middletown negotiating purchase of deKoven Drive parcel for housing, retail project

Negotiations are moving ahead to purchase a property on deKoven Drive to make way for the proposed Village at Riverside downtown mixed-use development, which will include ample parking for residents and visitors. Among the components are affordable luxury units, condos, and as retail and public spaces. The area is considered prime real estate for its […]

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Potential Manchester warehouse is likely to face ‘very big’ public hearing

A potential warehouse project on the East Hartford and South Windsor borders could face pushback from residents if the developer moves forward with an application. New Fairfield-based TRAC Consulting submitted a “pre-application review” for a 150,800-square-foot distribution warehouse with 30 loading bays at 71 and 81 Commerce Road, located within an existing industrial park. Tom […]

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Reopening North Stamford’s Cedar Heights Road bridge delayed again: ‘An extremely complex process’

The bridge project was initially expected to be completed in November 2023. But City Engineer Lou Casolo said last year that plans for water handling, bridge demolition and supporting utilities went through “multiple rounds” of review, resulting in delays. A bridge on Wire Mill Road is also slated for construction work, Casolo said, but the […]

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Aquarion, Eversource to restart work in Wilton on water pipeline, gas main near New Canaan border

Work is expected to restart March 1 as Aquarion Water Co. and Eversource Energy return to their pipe installation projects in Wilton along New Canaan Road/Route 106, according to a statement from the town. The Aquarion work is part of the southwest regional pipeline transmission water main, and the Eversource project is part of a […]

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Torrington school project ahead of schedule

The city is planning to sell $14 million in bonds Thursday for the new high/middle school and various road improvement projects. The $14 million in general obligation bonds includes $10 million for high school construction and $4 million for roadwork. The city also is issuing $34 million in bond anticipation notes – short-term notes the […]

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Bradley Airport gets federal funding for new 80,000-sq.-ft. baggage inspection facility

Bradley International Airport has received $5.4 million in federal funding for the ongoing construction of an 80,000-square-foot checked baggage inspection system behind the Sheraton Hotel. The project will enable baggage to be sent from airline ticket counters on a mile-long conveyor belt to the new facility for screening. The project will free up space for […]

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Whole Foods, T.J. Maxx to anchor new retail center in Cheshire

Officials with Florida-based Regency Centers announced the first two tenants of the complex’s retail portion, ending months of speculation. The retail portion of the complex, which will be a 152,000 square foot shopping center located near the intersection of Route 10 and I-691, will be know as Cheshire Crossing. Whole Foods currently has 11 stores […]

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Enfield opposes proposed solar facility, will look into hiring an expert to intervene

Town officials are vehemently opposed to a proposed solar facility at 141 Town Farm Road and will be looking into hiring an expert to intervene on the town’s behalf. Lonestar Energy of Avon has petitioned the Connecticut Siting Council for a ruling on constructing and operating a solar electric-generating facility on a 12.1-acre property that […]

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Stamford train station’s new parking garage finally opens: ‘A long time coming’

As federal, state and local officials celebrated the opening of the new parking garage for the Stamford train station Monday, at least three used essentially the same phrase to describe the occasion: “a long time coming.” On Monday, Mayor Caroline Simmons laid out the features of the new facility: 914 parking spots, 92 charging stations […]

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Tweed Airport Board Delays Addressing Expansion Questions, Citing Legal Concerns

The Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Board delayed its response to questions regarding the costs and timeline of the approved airport expansion on Tuesday, pointing to an ongoing legal battle with the town. Included in the letter were nine questions about the expected schedule, funding mechanisms and total cost of the federally approved expansion — […]

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Construction bids open for Coast Guard museum building

“This is the big one and a great milestone for this project,” the retired Coast Guard captain and president of the National Coast Guard Museum Association said. “People are going to see steel out of the ground later this fall.” Bids for the 89,000-square-foot, six-story museum building and its associated interior systems were put out […]

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West Hartford-based Verogy to convert 3 capped landfills in CT into solar energy farms

A solar energy developer based in West Hartford, Verogy, has received approvals to convert former landfills in Deep River, Middletown and Montville into solar energy projects. The company announced it has received permits from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to create the energy farms. Verogy plans to install solar arrays on the […]

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A new report says more investment in New England’s grid is needed for a clean energy future

The study, from grid operator ISO New England, concludes that New England may need to invest close to $1 billion in in its electric transmission infrastructure each year, through 2050, in order to handle the increased electrical demands. Under one scenario outlined in the report, the electrical demand on the grid could peak at 57 […]

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Torrington apartment complex getting $16M renovation

More than $16 million in state financing has been earmarked to renovate the 55-year-old Northside Terraces apartment complex at 4 Terrace Drive. Northside Terraces LLC will get $4 million in state Department of Housing financing, $12.08 million in Connecticut Housing Finance Authority financing and 4% in low-income housing tax credits that will attract approximately $8.3 […]

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Loading dock takes center stage as contractors tour Garde Arts Center expansion project

A two-pronged plan to reconfigure Governor Winthrop Boulevard and renovate the Garde Arts Center’s loading area took a step forward Thursday as contractors toured the future construction site. The goal of the project is to expand space behind the 325 State St. theater to make it easier for touring productions to load and unload gear, […]

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Simsbury rejects 432-unit housing development proposal at The Hartford’s former campus

After months of back and forth on a massive development proposed at the former site of The Hartford insurance company, the Zoning Commission voted to reject a project that would have included 432 rental units. The decision on Wednesday comes as a win to the many residents who had passionately voiced their opposition at numerous […]

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Democrats propose tax breaks for CT developers of commercial properties into residences

Ten-percent tax credits for developers who convert commercial properties into residential dwellings is the center piece of proposed housing priorities for the legislative session, majority Democrats in the state Senate announced on Tuesday. At least 50 apartment units per property would have to be in the conversions, with at least 20 percent designated as affordable […]

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Construction Associations Back State Challenge to Federal Rule that Diverts Infrastructure Resources From Vital Projects

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) jointly filed amicus briefs in support of 22 states challenging the Biden Administration’s new Greenhouse gas performance measure for state transportation departments. The two associations noted the new rule is likely to divert resources from vital new infrastructure projects […]

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New London will bond $2.4M to pay for infrastructure and equipment costs

The city this year will bond $2.47 million to pay for infrastructure, emergency service equipment and other capital improvements, including those related to a recent church steeple collapse. The bonding is split into two portions ― $1.8 million for road, sidewalks and other infrastructure work, and $673,000 for fire, police and municipal computer equipment purchases. […]

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Upgrades planned for Groton-New London Airport

The head of the Connecticut Airport Authority said Wednesday that federal funding for safety and lighting improvements and snow removal at the Groton-New London Airport continues to help position the airport to realize its longtime goal of commercial airline service. While the airport faces competition from Tweed New Haven Airport and T.F. Green International Airport […]

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Siting Council OKs revised plan for Fairfield, Bridgeport with relocated power lines

United Illuminating Company has gotten the OK to build multi-story steel poles north of the railroad tracks between Fairfield and Bridgeport. The council’s decision would relocate the monopoles that UI applied to build along the southern side of the tracks, where the structures, designed to support electric lines, would have sliced through 19.25 acres of […]

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Port authority board members push back on Lamont’s merger proposal

A bill proposed this month by Gov. Ned Lamont would rename the Connecticut Port Authority and essentially absorb the group into the state’s airport authority. The bill calls for identifying the port authority as the “Connecticut Maritime Authority” and making it a subsidiary of the airport group, according to a copy of the act provided […]

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Construction of $70M cutting-edge, first in CT, proton therapy cancer facility to begin in spring

Construction of a cutting-edge cancer center in Connecticut is scheduled to begin this spring at 932 Northrop Road in Wallingford, town officials say. Joe Mirra, the town’s Economic Development Commission chairman, said Tuesday that representatives of Hartford Healthcare and Yale New Haven Health System have told him construction of the 25,000 square foot Connecticut Proton […]

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New Fairfield beach house project estimates go more than $1M over budget, town engineer says

The New Fairfield Town Park beach house reconstruction project — for which $700,000 in ARPA money was allocated — has come in over budget, town engineer Antonio Iadarola told the Board of Selectmen during its Feb. 2 meeting. After bringing the “major budget issue” to the attention of First Selectwoman Melissa Lindsey, he said officials […]

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Greenwich developer hoping to build downtown Stamford 10-story hotel wants less parking than required

A developer looking to build an extended-stay hotel in Stamford’s downtown argues that 25 off-site parking spaces would be more than enough to accommodate guests, but the city’s zoning regulations need to be changed before it’s allowed. Tullamore LLC, which is affiliated with Greenwich-based Wellbuilt Company, has requested the text change as part of a […]

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When will Stamford’s torn-up Summer Street reopen? Officials say sidewalks will be done first.

The sidewalks are under construction as part of the Lower Summer Street Promenade project, which includes widened sidewalks on both sides of Lower Summer Street (the section between Broad and Main streets), an improved streetscape with new lights and trees, a raised intersection to increase pedestrian safety and other improvements. Meyer said the project costs […]

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Norwalk’s new roundabout to make Richards Ave, West Cedar Street safer: ‘Good traffic design’

Also called a roundabout or rotary, the traffic circle will replace the more than 30-year-old traffic signal at the intersection, saving the city in future maintenance costs and limiting emissions from vehicles idling at red lights, said Jim Travers, director of the city’s Transportation, Mobility and Parking Department. It will be located near the campus […]

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Before construction begins, Lymes’ Senior Center renovation not on time or on budget

Officials are scrambling to come up with savings now that bids have come in more than a million dollars higher than original estimates for the $5.3 million senior center renovation project. The bids came from construction subcontractors vying to work under the Hartford-based Newfield Construction management firm, which was selected in October to manage the […]

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Norwich considers pursuing $15 million federal grant for I-395 exit improvements

The City Council will be asked Tuesday to support a $15.6 million federal grant request for improvements to the Interstate 395 Exit 18 ramp and to create dedicated lanes for traffic entering and leaving the planned Occum Industrial Center. The Norwich Community Development Corp. is seeking authorization to apply for the grant through the U.S. […]

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Construction Leaders Recognizing & Responding to the Opioid Crisis

he Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) Spring 2018 edition of TAUC’s Construction User magazine was devoted to the opioid issue with the theme “Confronting the Opioid Crisis: What Contractors Can Do Today.” Today, Zimmer serves as an appointed member of the Connecticut Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. In 2023 Zimmer was invited to represent the construction […]

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A showdown on a CT airport redevelopment plan looms. Mayor has ‘real serious questions’ on viability

As a showdown on the future of Hartford-Brainard Airport looms in the legislature, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam isn’t showing his cards just yet, and last year’s consultant’s report didn’t go far enough in helping him take a position on the issue. A consultant’s $1.5 million study late last year concluded that the 200-acre airfield in […]

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South Windsor schools unveil details of planned athletic field upgrades ahead of hearing next month

School officials have submitted detailed plans for the proposed athletic field improvements at South Windsor High School ahead of a public hearing scheduled in March. Though the Town Council decided in January not to set a date for a $7.5 million referendum to fund the plan, the school district is moving forward with an application […]

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Fairfield OKs 5-story mixed use development on Black Rock; contaminated soil still needs cleaned

Zoning commissioners signed off on plans to build a five-story building with 245 apartments, including 30 affordable units, ground-floor retail space and co-working offices for residents at 81 Black Rock Turnpike, tucked between Fairfield Metro Center and the newly opened Elicit Brewing Company location. The zoning approval is a major step forward for the large-scale […]

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Last offshore wind turbine parts leave New London

Less than a year after the offshore wind industry landed in New London with the delivery of components for the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, the final pieces of New York’s South Fork Wind slowly made their way by barge up the Thames River on Friday night. The parts, which include 330-foot-long turbine blades, […]

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3 reasons why contractors need craft training to stay competitive

Despite being particularly adept at overcoming daily challenges, contractors often find attracting skilled craft professionals to be a daunting task. Craft training and credentials are a source of pride for their recipients. Every company, regardless of sector, can benefit from increased efficiency and quality of work. The immediate results of craft training have been thoroughly […]

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Foxwoods turns 32, announces what’s in store for 2024

Rodney Butler, the Mashantucket tribal chairman, also spoke at Thursday’s celebration, noting that Foxwoods’ evolution actually began 37 years ago with the opening of a high-stakes bingo hall that became Foxwoods Resort Casino in 1992. Butler said nearly 200 tribal members are employed at Foxwoods, which he said continues to serve as an economic engine […]

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Groton’s Former Landfill Eyed for $4M Solar Project

The former town landfill is slated for a 5 megawatt solar array which could help generate both energy and income for Groton. If approved, the $4 million project by West Hartford-based solar developer Verogy that was presented to the Town Council on Tuesday would provide Groton with about $200,000 in lease payments or payments in […]

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Siting Council Approves Transmission Lines to Run North of the Metro-North Line

State officials significantly modified a $225 million United Illuminating transmission line project in Bridgeport and Fairfield on Thursday, upsetting local opponents and considerably delaying the company’s plan. While UI’s proposal called for the removal of aged transmission lines along the Northeast Corridor and to construct new monopoles primarily south of the Metro-North railroad line, the […]

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Tweed gets $2.5 million for new terminal at New Haven Regional Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Tweed New Haven Regional Airport a $2.5 million grant toward the cost of building a new 75,000-square-foot terminal on the East Haven side of the airport, airport officials announced Thursday. The project, currently estimated at $165 million, also includes lengthening the airport’s runway, adding additional parking and building a […]

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East Haven Files Federal Court Appeal Against Tweed Airport Expansion

The town and the nonprofit Save the Sound have appealed the approval of the Tweed New Haven Airport expansion in federal court on Wednesday, maintaining that an environmental study failed to address “crucial” looming impacts. After reviewing an environmental assessment of the $165 million plan, which includes the extension of a runway and new terminal […]

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Rooster River flood mitigation funding in limbo as Fairfield awaits Army Corps of Engineers permits

A multimillion-dollar project to reduce flooding along the Rooster River is in the middle of a town government tussle over how to allocate federal COVID-19 relief funds before they expire. Town officials said Fairfield has about four more months to commit more than $2.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Rooster River […]

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Eversource Surges on Plans to Shed Water, Offshore-Wind Assets

Eversource Energy surged the most in almost four years after announcing plans to exit the offshore-wind and water businesses, moves aimed at refocusing on its core business of delivering electricity and natural gas to customers in the US Northeast. The Springfield, Massachusetts-based company announced Tuesday a deal to sell its 50% stakes in two US […]

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‘Cash coming in the door’: Eversource says potential sale of Aquarion would help alleviate cash flow issues

Chief Financial Officer John Moreira blamed the Public Utilities Regulatory (PURA) for the company’s cash flow issues, saying the regulatory agency’s new methodology has prevented it from recovering $800 million related to supply costs and arrearages. PURA no longer allows utilities to forecast costs for supply in rate adjustments. However, Eversource expects to recover that […]

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Construction begins on controversial solar project in Torrington, Litchfield

Residents are opposing a solar project as trees are being removed and open fields are transformed into an access road and clearings for more than 51,000 panels. The project, which is owned by Silicon Ranch and sits on 212 acres in Litchfield and Torrington, was approved in September 2021 by the Connecticut Siting Council. Tree-clearing […]

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Opinion: Developers cry a river over having to pay CT residents fair wages

Post Road Residential is angry that, by accepting a brownfield remediation grant from DECD, they are required to ensure the construction workers hired to perform work on their development project would earn not less than our state’s prevailing wage. They’re apparently also upset by having to ensure a certain number of housing units are set […]

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‘It has really gotten out of hand’: wage theft rampant in US construction

Wage theft is a pervasive problem facing workers throughout the US. According to a 2014 report by the Economic Policy Institute, workers lose over $50bn a year to wage theft from employers. Wage theft includes tactics from stiffing workers on pay, failing to properly pay workers for overtime, minimum wage violations, misclassification of employees as […]

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Stamford developer suddenly withdraws 471-unit project after affordable housing clash with officials

Members of the Stamford Zoning Board were set to vote on a special permit for a proposed 471-unit downtown apartment complex on Clinton Avenue Tuesday night — until the request was withdrawn at the last minute. The withdrawal happened during a discussion about affordable housing units for the project. New York developer Carmel Partners preferred […]

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Torrington commission to review renewal application of quarry site

Mountaintop Trucking is looking to renew its earth excavation permit – likely for the last time. The Planning and Zoning Commission will be reviewing the application for the renewal at its meeting Wednesday, City Planner Jeremy Leifert said. It is the ninth time the renewal has come before the commission since about 2005. Danny Stoughton, […]

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Why workforce housing was added to Bridgeport’s Steelpointe luxury development

So when a ceremonial ground-breaking was held on the site Jan. 16 it came as a surprise that 160 of the 420 units planned for the first phase of construction would be lower-priced workforce housing. Not low income, but aimed instead at teachers, police officers, nurses and others, and exceeding an affordable requirement in an […]

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Norwalk committee approves $271.4 million in build costs for two new schools

After a Common Council committee set the maximum contractor costs for the upcoming construction of the South Norwalk School and the new Norwalk High School, the city is looking at a maximum combined cost for the projects of as much as $271.4 million. Newfield Construction, the South Norwalk School’s contractor, can charge the city at […]

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Redevelopment plan for Westbrook Outlets calls for mix of housing, commercial space

n recent weeks, the Westbrook Outlets, an open-air shopping center off Exit 65 of Interstate 95, some 20 miles west of Waterford’s Crystal Mall, has emerged as the potential site of a $425 million development that would involve leveling what’s there now and replacing it with a mix of residential and commercial space. The plan […]

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New Milford developer’s plan for 107 townhouses raises traffic concerns: ‘It’s a very narrow road’

A proposal to build 107 townhouses on Pickett District Road has a few nearby residents concerned about the project’s potential impact on traffic and on their properties. Flagstaff Investments of New Milford submitted a special permit and site plan application to construct the 12-building townhouse residential complex to the Zoning Commission in November. The commission […]

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Solar developer eyes Manchester forest near residential area for 7.8-acre facility

A solar farm developer petitioned the state late last month to build a facility in Manchester’s “rural residential” zone. California-based TRITEC Americas hopes to install a solar array on 7.8 acres of vacant land at 250 Carter St., bordering the cul-de-sac on Amanda Drive and a handful of single-family homes on Blue Ridge Drive and […]

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State AG: Connecticut Port Authority ‘success fee’ to contractor was legal

Attorney General William Tong on Tuesday announced his office had closed a whistleblower investigation into the Connecticut Port Authority and determined there was nothing illegal about the $523,000 “success fee” paid to a contractor, Seabury Capital, whose co-founder was a former port authority board member. “Our investigation did not substantiate the whistleblower’s allegations of impropriety […]

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$30M Bradley Airport hangar project aims to capitalize on increased corporate jet use, despite business travel’s slow recovery

Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA), said 2023 was a year of continued recovery for air travel in general, and at the state’s largest hub, Bradley International Airport. “We ​captured ​back ​a ​lot ​of ​our ​pre-pandemic ​traffic,” he said. ​“But ​if ​you ​look ​at ​where ​we’re ​at ​right ​now, ​on ​any […]

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How will West Hartford reconstruct its town center? Some questions remain as new plans are shown

The reconstruction of the bustling West Hartford Center is looming. Sidewalks are narrow and hazardous, trees need to be replaced, and the existing pedestrian infrastructure is outdated and at times unsafe. The West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan was first revealed a year ago, with plans to elevate the popular dining and shopping destination to […]

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Lamont keeps CT budget within fiscal guardrails, pays down $500M in debt

Gov. Ned Lamont stayed well within Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails Wednesday, recommending a $26.1 billion budget that erases $500 million in bonded debt and invests in child care and education while largely holding the line in most other places. The spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 increases base aid for public colleges and […]

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Lamont’s $26.1B budget plan takes a big bite out of bonded debt

Gov. Ned Lamont will unveil a $26.1 billion budget Wednesday for the next fiscal year that features few new initiatives and a plan to dramatically reduce Connecticut’s bonded debt using rapidly accumulating reserves from its transportation program, according to sources familiar with the plan. Connecticut budgets in biennial cycles, and the plan Lamont will present […]

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Latest designs for Cheshire’s new Norton School, with open central courtyard, await cost estimates

Current designs for the new Norton school show a two-story building with an open central courtyard, a media center and rooms for music, art and teacher planning. The lower level includes a section with a gym, cafeteria, nurse’s office and administrative offices. The school was given a “Woods and Trails” theme through discussions with stakeholder […]

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Newtown orders independent study of 117-home plan that would ‘disturb virgin soil’ near Taunton Pond

The town’s environmental review board has taken the extra step of ordering a local builder to pay for an independent review of his wetland engineering plans to cluster 117 homes near Taunton Pond after a crowd of residents railed against the project. D’Amico and a majority of the residents who raised concerns about the development […]

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Shelton P&Z rejects plan to add 28 more condos at River Road complex

Plans to nearly double a condominium development off River Road have been shot down by the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission. Daybreak Ridge, LLC, is presently constructing 36 condominiums — dubbed Daybreak Ridge — at the site. The developers’ application for the zone change of the 12.39-acre parcel to a Planned Development District would have […]

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After Fairfield, Bridgeport residents decry UI ‘monopole’ project, the structures may move north

The looming steel poles at the center of a controversial United Illuminating proposal could move north of the railroad tracks, away from a location some say threatened nearly 20 acres of private property between Fairfield and Bridgeport. In a non-binding “straw poll,” the Connecticut Siting Council, which oversees power line projects, voted in favor of […]

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Bordonaro: Public fights between PURA, utility companies reflect challenges of industry regulation

What type of relationship should exist between a regulator and the regulated? It’s an age-old question that local, state and federal governments often struggle with. Most reasonable people would agree some tension ought to exist between an industry regulator and the companies it oversees. But the PURA-Eversource/UI squabbles go well beyond that, and could hinder […]

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Siting Council Rejects UI Rail Line Project in Nonbinding Vote

Under the $225 million proposal, UI would have swapped aged transmission lines with new 100- to 135- foot monopoles south of the Metro-North railroad line, requiring 19.25 acres of easements and 6.5 acres tree clearing. Officials, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, State Rep. Jennifer Leeper and […]

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Steinberg Embraces Nuclear Energy, Supports Third Nuclear Reactor at Millstone

Once a skeptic of nuclear energy, Energy and Technology Co-Chair State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, is now one of its staunchest supporters. Steinberg told CT Examiner this week that, like many of his contemporaries, he questioned the benefits of using nuclear energy. But those concerns have been alleviated through research, talking to field experts and […]

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East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin’s vision for Main Street includes a ‘Parkville Market East’

Martin, speaking at town hall meeting Thursday, said he envisions a revitalized Main Street area, with streetscape and traffic-calming improvements, as well as the possibility of traffic circles in high accident areas. Martin said residents could soon begin to see Bissell Street closed down to motor vehicle traffic one or two days a week and […]

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Westport’s former Bridgewater Associates site planned for affordable housing, office space

The former Bridgewater Associates property is prepping to become new office spaces and housing, including affordable housing for people with disabilities, while paying homage to the outdoors in its aesthetic. The development would be called The Glendinning Village, named after its 1 Glendinning Place address and the man who built it in the 1960s, Ralph […]

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Development will bring 154 apartments to New Britain in 2025

The massive redevelopment of a former factory building in New Britain will add more than 150 new apartments to the city early next year, city officials and developers said. Officials from WinnCompanies and WinnDevelopment, a Massachusetts-based developer and housing management firm, visited New Britain this week for a progress tour of 321 Ellis St., which […]

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New Greenwich ice rink plans on ice: Dorothy Hamill replacement timeline unclear

First Selectman Fred Camillo said the town is working diligently to replace the rink, but they need to follow the proper process. Municipal Improvement status, commonly referred to as “MI,” is granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Department of Public Works started presenting its rink replacement plan to the commission last year, but […]

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CT’s Bradley airport gets $10M boost after sinkhole that’s 35-feet-deep forms on perimeter

The Connecticut Airport Authority has confirmed that a sinkhole formed at the perimeter of Bradley International Airport in December. In a statement provided to CT Insider, CAA spokesperson Brian Spyros said that the sinkhole had been “temporarily filled and stabilized.” According to agency officials, the sinkhole formed around Dec. 4. The 20-by-20 foot sinkhole grew […]

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What CT could learn from other states’ climate change policies

For years, Connecticut has struggled with a number of clean energy initiatives as the legislature has been reluctant to authorize policy or money for them. Nevermind just keeping pace with the neighbors, there are lessons for Connecticut in the region and elsewhere for innovative ways to tackle climate change from energy and emissions standpoints. Connecticut […]

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State launches effort to keep Connecticut at forefront of the wind industry

The collaborative, first announced last October, will be a nonprofit tasked with working with the government, industry, labor and academia, along with neighboring states, to help drive offshore wind toward becoming a major economic driver in the state. It will be housed in offices at the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region in Groton, an agency that […]

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After death of worker, CT utility should step up certain safety precautions, state report finds

State utilities regulators urged Connecticut’s second largest electricity provider to use the same safety precautions for work at office buildings as a public street or highway after a land surveyor was struck and killed in Fairfield last year. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued its recommendation in a recent decision, following an investigation into the […]

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Ten rural CT communities to receive portion of over $9M for transportation, safety upgrades

Ten rural Connecticut communities are receiving their portion of more than $9 million in state grants to improve safety and transportation, with upgrades including sidewalks, trails, and roads. The grants — released through the Transportation Rural Improvement Program, or TRIP — are designed to direct funding to rural towns that are often ineligible for many […]

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$16.5M Danbury High School science lab renovations advances on state’s priority list

The $16.5 million plan is among the projects that made the School Construction Project Priority List put forth by the state Department of Administrative Services, according to an announcement issued by State Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury. DAS’ School Construction Project Priority List Review Committee approved the project’s consideration last week. Kushner’s office stated the project […]

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Years after its first buses rolled, CTfastrak delivering new development in West Hartford

With CTfastrak about to enter its ninth year, The Jayden mixed-use project in West Hartford is on track to be the latest instance of transit-oriented development along its route. Hexagon New Park LLC intends to build a five-story, 70-unit apartment building on a New Park Avenue site near the busway’s Elmwood station. The Jayden would […]

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Eastern Connecticut the Odd Man Out as Powerhouse Gathering in Stamford Pitches High-Speed-Rail

“It’s not partisan. It’s not even geographic, in the sense that it’s defined by only big city mayors, or any sort of specific factor — if you’re connected via a railroad, which almost every community in the United States is actually, whether they know it or not, there’s been a resurgence and focus about how […]

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Fairfield Developers May Reject $3M State Grant Over Costly Conditions on Housing

Town officials and developers of a proposed 245-apartment, mixed-use project on a contaminated lot said they may reject a $3 million remediation grant from the state, due to stringent conditions that could boost project costs by $25 million. Developers have long kept away from 81 Black Rock Turnpike, as any new construction would require a […]

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Occum Industrial Center gets go-ahead from Commission on the City Plan: what that means

Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) President Kevin Brown said plans to develop a second business park are now more stable. The Commission on the City Plan met Tuesday, and decided on a 3-2 vote that the subdivision plan NCDC wanted approved for the Occum Industrial Center can go ahead. Throughout the process to develop these […]

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CT files lawsuit to force utility to clean up long-polluted power plant in middle of river

The hulking English Station power plant has sat silent for decades in the middle of the Mill River, contaminated with PCBs, no longer providing power for United Illuminating. On Monday, Attorney General William Tong held a press conference in New Haven to announce a lawsuit accusing UI of failing to live up to its agreements […]

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Inflation Has Contractors Taking Pass On Federally-Funded Transportation Projects

Construction contractors are between a rock and a hard place: What the Biden administration’s IIJA has gifted with a hike in construction work, Buy America policies have taken away by making the work much pricier to perform. Construction costs rose almost 3 percent during the first quarter of 2023, and contractors have seen a 50 […]

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West Haven tries again to resolve The Haven site; Water Street to remain closed

With beach season looming and more traffic expected near the city’s shoreline, officials currently have no plans to reopen Water Street. Water Street, a road parallel to First Avenue, was closed for the expected construction of an outlet mall with water views called The Haven. The development has become a sore spot for residents, as […]

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Sportsbook at Hartford’s XL Center is under-performing, as massive renovations are planned

Officials at the Connecticut Lottery Corp. and the Capital Region Development Authority say the under-performance of the restaurant and sports wagering operation can be blamed on the relative newness of the facility, which is currently less of a destination for gamblers than it is for people attending concerts and sporting events that might fill the […]

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Pedestrian bridge envisioned as ‘formidable gateway’ to New London

The City Council this month approved paying the Hartford-based Crosskey Architects firm $22,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to “reimagine and design” the Water Street walking bridge that connects the Winthrop Square housing complex on Federal Street to Fulton Park. Director of Public Works Brian Sear said the bridge, built in 1973, is not […]

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Meriden highway project promises major, though still unknown, disruption to residents, businesses

Silt fences sit along the eastern edge of Interstate 91 behind Bee Street where the commuter lot is now a staging area for O&G Industries to park trucks and equipment. Phase I of state Department of Transportation project number 72-245 has quietly begun in the city while the other two phases of an overall $500 […]

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Three long-awaited Norwich projects receive approvals, updates

By this coming fall, there could be a locally owned restaurant open in the former racquetball court, and retail space, offices and apartments under construction, as Mattern Construction Inc. works to erase remnants of the long-closed former YMCA on Main Street. The Norwich Planning Commission unanimously approved Tuesday the Baltic company’s plan to transform the […]

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Fay & Wright Excavating Acquires Blastech Inc.; Forms New Company

Fay & Wright Excavating, one of the largest custom rock crushing service providers in the Northeast, recently announced that its ownership team has acquired the assets of Blastech Inc. All Blastech employees have chosen to join Tri-State Drilling and Blasting, bringing with them decades of experience. According to Lee Baldwin, vice president of Fay & […]

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Danish company agrees to buy Eversource’s stake in Sunrise Wind offshore project

Officials with the Danish renewable energy company Ørsted said Wednesday they have signed an agreement to acquire the 50 percent ownership stake that Eversource Energy has in Sunrise Wind, an offshore wind farm designed to provide electricity to New York State. Ørsted’s deal with Eversource comes months after the Danish energy company stopped development on […]

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Redevelopment of the former West Hartford UConn campus gets a Town Council public hearing date

A portion of the redevelopment of the former University of Connecticut campus in town will go before the Town Council for a public hearing on March 11. Newly submitted plans also signal a name change for the development. Previously called Oakwood Park, developer West Hartford 1 LLC has changed the community’s name to Heritage Park, […]

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Fight over future of Hartford-Brainard Airport revs up with new hearing next month

The brand-new mayors in Hartford and East Hartford are still developing their stances on the facility that abuts their cities, even as a trio of airport businesses pursue a lawsuit against city lawmakers highlighting their anti-airport activism. And the active and well-funded group representing Hartford-Brainard supporters is gearing up to make the case that the […]

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East Norwalk train station to close twice in 2024 for upgrades as part of Walk Bridge project

The East Norwalk train station will close this spring and summer for three-week stretches as crews begin work to replace the train station. As crews begin work on the $1 billion Walk Bridge replacement project, shovels will also break ground in East Norwalk. To improve the overall connectivity and rail service in Norwalk, the Connecticut […]

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