As industry faces workforce shortage, more women embracing construction trades

As the sector faces an aging workforce and tight labor market, big contracting firms, as well as smaller subcontractors and their suppliers, are being forced to diversify their hiring. As a result, in recent years, private design, engineering and contracting firms, construction trade groups, labor unions and nonprofit workforce-development agencies have mounted a full-court press […]

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Republicans Wait For More Information On Lamont’s New Transportation Plan

Gov. Ned Lamont’s chief of staff, Ryan Drajewicz, has dedicated most of his time over the last few months to coming up with a 10-year transportation plan that leverages federal dollars for transportation projects in strategic areas with the best opportunity for improved economic development. However, in order to leverage that federal funding, Connecticut will […]

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Eight-figure Stamford sale paves way for senior-living project

Plans for the property call for a 145-unit “luxury” independent- and assisted-living campus called Waterstone on High Ridge. To start construction, National Development plans in November to begin demolishing 110,000 square feet of the existing building. The project is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2021. National has developed nearly 30 senior […]

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State Republican leaders would consider toll plan

It may not seem like a lot, and Lamont certainly isn’t tallying up Republican votes just yet, but the notable change in tone publicly and privately from Republican legislators suggests his efforts to start from scratch on a new transportation plan aren’t completely for naught, even if it includes a few tolls. The plan will […]

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SJW closes $1.1B deal to acquire CT Water

A California company has closed its $1.1 billion acquisition of Connecticut Water, a Clinton-based utility that provides water services to more than 136,000 customers in Connecticut and Maine. The buyer, San Jose-based SJW Group, now claims 1.5 million customers across California, Connecticut, Maine and Texas. Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved the acquisition in […]

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Making case for more state investment, Waterbury Mayor O’Leary takes Gov. Lamont on tour of city’s redevelopment projects

Mayor Neil M. O’Leary took Gov. Ned Lamont on a tour through several multimillion-dollar redevelopment projects in the city’s South End Monday, and pledged to continue focusing on the area. Lamont on Monday said the bonding package is “tied” to whatever transportation plan is ultimately approved. More money borrowed for transportation will mean less money […]

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New Fairfield approves school building projects

Voters gave the go-ahead for the town to build a new high school and expand the Meeting House Hill School at a cost of more than $113 million. The $113.4 million school building plan, proposed by the Board of Education, calls for a $84.2 million new high school and a $29.2 million addition onto Meeting […]

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Gov. Ned Lamont revamping transportation plan to unclog choke-points

Lamont’s updated plan will also focus on alternative transportation financing from the federal government as he seeks to shave time off long commutes for workers and improve the state’s job outlook. Top legislators and representatives from the Lamont administration met with federal transportation officials recently to discuss low-interest loans available through the U.S. Department of […]

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Nighttime Bridge Maintenance on Route 8 South in Bridgeport

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that a nighttime bridge maintenance project will be performed on multiple bridges along Route 8 southbound in Bridgeport, Monday, October 7, through Friday, November 22, 2019. Motorists can expect lane closures. The regular work schedule for this project is from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am. (Monday through Thursday […]

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US Senate subcommittee advances $87B transportation bill

The measure would hand over $1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants; $46.3 billion for highway projects; $17.7 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration; $2.8 billion for rail projects funded through the Federal Railroad Administration, an amount that includes $2 billion for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and other projects; $13 billion for […]

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The PRO Act: Good for workers and good for business

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is an opportunity for Congress to give working families their voice back. The PRO Act would ensure that employers could no longer dodge wage and hour standards by misclassifying workers.  Employers also would not be allowed to misclassify employees as supervisors or independent contractors to prevent them […]

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I-84 Widening Project is Finalist for National Award

Twelve winning transportation projects from four U.S. regional competitions, including the I-84 widening project in Waterbury, will battle it out in this year’s America’s Transportation Awards competition, with two $10,000 cash awards for a charity or transportation-related scholarship of the winners’ choosing at stake. The broad scope of the projects in the final round include […]

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Transportation, nursing home funds, bonding limits on General Assembly agenda

Since the regular General Assembly session wrapped on June 5, lawmakers have said they’d be back this fall to tackle unfinished business. And now, with two months left before the winter holiday season brings new scheduling challenges, Lamont and legislators are struggling to solve a Rubik’s Cube of policy issues and agree on an agenda […]

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Wethersfield’s ex-Puritan site slated for ‘$8M-plus’ medical-office development

A pair of medical-office buildings are proposed for the former Puritan Furniture site on Wethersfield’s Silas Deane Highway, the developer says. Developer Michael Panek, president of Southbury-based Phoenix Realty Management, said the 12-acre site — which is the former home to a Puritan showroom-warehouse at 1210 Silas Deane Highway — has been purchased and the […]

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Massachusetts company competes to harness wind power for Connecticut, pitching Bridgeport as a hub

Vineyard Wind, based in New Bedford, Mass., submitted bids Monday for a 400-megawatt plan and options to develop projects that will generate 800 megawatts, 1,000 megawatts and 1,200 megawatts. The project, known as “Park City Wind,” was submitted to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in response to the agency’s 2019 solicitation for […]

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State DOT sets meeting in Plymouth on plans for Route 6

The state Department of Transportation will conduct a public information meeting on Oct. 22 concerning proposed major intersection improvements on Route 6 at North Main Street and Agney Avenue. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall Community Room at 80 Main St. A design presentation will followed by question-and-answer and […]

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Connecticut offshore wind competition kicks off

So far, Connecticut’s first selected offshore wind suppliers, Orsted and Eversource, will compete with Mayflower Wind, a joint venture between Shell New Energies and EDPR Renewables North America, and Vineyard Wind, a pairing of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables. The auction, following the state’s request for proposals in August, stemmed from lawmakers’ and Gov. […]

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Bristol plans to partner with Plainville on future development projects

The redevelopment authority will assist municipalities in procuring funding for local economic development projects, she said. “However, it set a benchmark for 70,000 population, but they’re allowing communities to work together. Bristol’s population is about 60,000 and Plainville’s is about 18,000, so working together both municipalities can take advantage of the new program, Zoppo-Sassu said. […]

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MTA eyes historic $51B budget

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s 2020-2024 Capital Plan released earlier this month proposes a $51.5 billion budget for the New York City region’s subways, buses and railroads over the next five years, the highest in the authority’s history and 70% higher than current levels. The proposal, which requires board approval, includes funding for the second […]

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UPDATED: Route 8 ramp to I-84 WB repaired after ‘structural concerns’ found

A ramp carrying Route 8 northbound traffic to Interstate 84 westbound reopened Thursday after being closed for about a day because of structural concerns workers discovered on the bridge. The problem was fixed and access to Exit 33 via Route 8 northbound was restored at about 3:30 p.m., the state Department of Transportation said. The […]

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Lamont touts major transportation plans to Stamford Chamber of Commerce

Gov. Ned Lamont said in a speech Thursday he wanted to hammer out a deal with state legislators to support major mass-transit upgrades, but it remains unclear the extent to which his long-favored plan to install tolls on state highways would fit into that project. Improving Connecticut’s aging and congested highways and rail lines represents […]

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Lamont announces $13 M in federal grants to assist affordable housing projects

Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration awarded 13 cities and towns a total of $13 million Thursday to finance housing rehabilitation to support low- and moderate-income households. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant  Small Cities program. The distribution of those funds in Connecticut is administered by the […]

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DOL finalizes $35K overtime threshold

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced today it will publish a final overtime rule, setting the minimum salary threshold for overtime eligibility at $35,568. The regulations implement the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)’s overtime mandate and, according to a senior DOL official, will make an estimated 1.3 million additional U.S. workers eligible for overtime […]

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Cuomo is coming to talk about regionalism, pot and transportation

Regional approaches to marijuana legalization and transportation will be the focus Wednesday morning when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo visits Gov. Ned Lamont at the Executive Residence in Hartford, the second time in a month the gubernatorial neighbors have met face to face. Connecticut is responsible for the railroad on this side of the border, […]

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CRDA offered Northland $4.5M for XL Center space

The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) earlier this summer offered $4.5 million to purchase a key portion of XL Center’s atrium and adjoining retail space currently owned by Northland Investment Corp., the Hartford Business Journal has learned. Northland, however, rejected the bid, arguing it was a low-ball offer, officials said. Northland Principal Larry Gottesdiener did not […]

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Feasibility study of Hartford’s XL Center OK’d

The board of directors of the quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), which oversees the 16,000-seat arena with Spectra Venue Management, voted unanimously Thursday night to rehire Conventions, Sports & Leisure International (CSL) to perform a new market demand and financial feasibility study of the venue. The study will begin as state lawmakers have been […]

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Key Connecticut officials meeting with feds on transportation funding

The meeting was arranged due to detailed work by Gov. Ned Lamont’s chief of staff, Ryan Drajewicz, who headed to Washington this summer to talk to the Trump administration and seek new funding to fix the state’s aging infrastructure. As a result, federal officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau will speak […]

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Alexion to put $10 million into New Haven facility

Alexion Pharmaceuticals plans to invest $10 million in labs at its facility in the city to increase the company’s capacity to reach clinical studies of its rare disease research. Alexion, in a statement, said its Global Product Development lab expansion at the 100 College St. site will be completed by the end of 2020. Yale […]

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CT’s small solutions to climate change: when flood control spurs economic development

But since 2016, Meriden has had far fewer water worries thanks to an innovative flood control concept called Meriden Green. City planners, landscape architects and others who do climate resilience work in Connecticut think it should be a model for every community. The core of the project has turned the brownfield area and the river […]

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Millstone, utilities finalize 10-year contract

State regulators recently approved a 10-year contract between the owner of Millstone Power Station and utility companies, effectively ending the yearslong political, regulatory and environmental battles to keep the plant operational. The contract calls on the utilities to buy half the plant’s output over the next decade. The price per kilowatt hour in the contract […]

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Middletown’s $87.35M combined middle school an investment ‘for our children’

The occasion was the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new facility for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, which will incorporate students from Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Keigwin Middle School into an $87.35 million state-of-the-art building expected to be complete within the next two years. This is the first time a new middle school […]

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Feds to brief legislators on transportation funding alternatives

With a briefing by federal transportation finance officials, the administration of Gov. Ned Lamont is expected to give lawmakers a glimpse Friday of potential ways the state might fund a 10-year transportation infrastructure plan without significant highway tolls. Officials from the Build America Bureau of the U.S. Department of Transportation are coming to Hartford to […]

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Sewer pump station hearing moved to Oct. 2

Closing and demolition of the District Two sewage treatment plant on Route 7 and the piping of that wastewater for treatment at the soon-to-be renovated District One sewer plant on South Street will be up for comment at a Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall […]

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New Haven firm pitches idea for 200-unit complex in New London

RJ Development + Advisors LLC, a New Haven-based commercial real estate development company, has put together conceptual plans and an ambitious schedule for construction of a four-story, 200-unit market-rate residential complex at the corner of Hamilton and Howard streets. https://www.theday.com/local-news/20190913/new-haven-firm-pitches-idea-for-200-unit-complex-in-new-london

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Joe Courtney: New submarine facility will define Connecticut’s economy

The $800 million production facility for the Columbia-class submarine program is a generational enterprise that has and will employ thousands of trades workers, engineers, designers and planners to replace a critical fleet of aging Ohio-class submarines that have been on patrol for over 40 years. The new submarines are the U.S. Navy’s top acquisition priority, […]

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Hartford Hospital plans 50,000 sq. ft. addition to Seymour St. campus

Hartford’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved the hospital’s plan to build a 49,550-square-foot addition to the north façade of its existing Bliss Building at 80 Seymour St. It’s unknown how much the project will cost, but newly appointed Hartford HealthCare CEO Jeff Flaks told Hartford Business Journal in August that a “multimillion-dollar construction […]

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DOL apprenticeship plan stirs debate among contractors

At issue is a proposal to exempt the construction industry from one element of the plan — the creation of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) that would take over much of the standard-setting now done by DOL and state agencies. Now that the Aug. 26 deadline for submitting formal comments has passed, DOL officials will decide […]

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Atlantic Street reopens as bridge repair finishes

Pedestrians may now access the Atlantic Street sidewalks under the new bridge. During the 4th of July week, the old bridge, which carries five tracks for Metro-North Railroad and Amtrack trains, was taken down and a new one put in place over the course of roughly 10 days. As portions of the old one were demolished, […]

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Company agrees to waive $100,000 fee for study of Waterbury sewage treatment plant odor

It won’t cost Waterbury $100,000 to track down overpowering odors blamed on its sewage treatment plant after all. Recent news of the additional fee to Jacobs Engineering had sparked criticism. The company was already hired to a 10-year, $62.9 million, contract to run the city’s sewage treatment plant. Mayor Neil M. O’Leary, on Monday, said […]

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More Than 300,000 Comments Pour In on DOL’s Proposed Apprenticeship Rule

The Dept. of Labor’s inbox has been swamped by more than 300,000 comments—the vast majority from construction workers, according to a top union official—weighing in on the department’s proposal to revamp the federal program for apprenticeships. The regulation would apply to a broad range of industries. But for construction, the critical issue is a provision […]

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Stroffolino Bridge in Norwalk to close for construction

The bridge will be shut down from 9 a.m. Tuesday through 9 a.m. Thursday. Some lanes have been closed on the bridge during non-peak hours since April when upgrades to the structure began. Construction is expected to run until at least mid-November, state Department of Transportation officials said in April. The department had said then […]

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Winsted approves Hinsdale school renovations

Residents narrowly approved the $17.43 million project in a 780-669 vote in Saturday’s referendum, the Republican American reported. The town expects to receive about $7 million in state grants to offset costs. The plan includes adding a new play area and 7,700 square feet of new classroom space, removing an original portion of the building […]

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UHart’s biz school debuts $5M expansion

University of Hartford’s new addition includes a state-of-the-art trading floor with Bloomberg ticker and an analytics lab. The University of Hartford this week unveiled a new state-of-the-art learning and collaboration space at the Barney School of Business. The 10,000-square-foot addition, and additional 13,000 square feet of renovated space at the university’s Auerbach Hall, cost $5 […]

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Hartford’s $23M Arch Street apartments leasing quickly after Aug. debut

The fourth and final phase of Hartford’s Front Street District is now complete with the recent opening of a new $23 million apartment complex. Residents of the 53-unit, 81 Arch St. apartments overlooking UConn’s Hartford campus began moving in Aug. 1, said Peter Christian, director of development and acquisitions for Greenwich-based HB Nitkin Group, the […]

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Norwalk Planning Committee advances master plan

The full Common Council will get their chance to review and potentially adopt the 10-year master plan for the city, after the Planning Committee advanced it on Thursday. The goals of the Plan of Conservation and Development aim to fulfill the city’s vision for the future, which includes making it a “national example of a […]

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Kevin Rennie: Gov. Lamont needs a relaunch. Can he do it?

Labor Day provides an opportunity for leaders to relaunch their missions. Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration recognizes this, and the first autumn of a first term provides an opportunity for some renovations. This round could be better for Lamont and Connecticut if the governor has learned the lessons of the bitter past. https://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-rennie-lamont-relaunch-0908-20190905-7o2li6m4i5gs5nqon2qdj7uyz4-story.html  

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State takes $25M loss on key downtown Hartford apartment redevelopment

A heavily subsidized downtown Hartford apartment project that was part of the city’s “six pillars” economic-development plan has fallen into foreclosure and forced the state to take a nearly $25 million haircut on its original investment, the Hartford Business Journal has learned. Elizon DB Transfer Agent LLC, of Greenwich, is suing in Hartford Superior Court, […]

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What’s new at CCSU: Construction continues as part of 10-year plan

Projects featured in this plan that have already been completed previously to this year include renovations to the Willard-DiLoreto complex, the Mid-Campus Residence Hall, Hilltop Dining Facility, a new nursing lab, a new food pantry facility and renovations to a social sciences hall that has since been named Ebenezer Bassett Hall after the first African-American […]

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Lamont, legislators: Quasi-publics are here to stay

All of the state’s 15 quasi-publics are subject to state audits, and their operations fall under the state ethics code and freedom of information act. But they have more freedom than state agencies in personnel, purchasing and contracting decisions. Lamont said the state’s Office of Policy and Management, which prepares the state budget, most likely […]

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DOL apprenticeship plan stirs debate among contractors

At issue is a proposal to exempt the construction industry from one element of the plan — the creation of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) that would take over much of the standard-setting now done by DOL and state agencies. DOL has said it would exempt construction and the military from the program because those sectors […]

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No One Standing Down In Highway Toll Debate As Lamont Takes New Approach

Last week, the Connecticut State Building Trades Council and officers of the Connecticut AFL-CIO sent Democratic lawmakers a letter urging them to pass legislation to implement electronic tolling as quickly as possible. They said electronic tolls will raise $800 million for the Special Transportation Fund and 40% of that will come from out-of-state drivers who […]

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Offshore wind means real jobs, growth for Thames River

Work on turning State Pier into a modern, heavy-lift facility that supports offshore wind development will provide opportunities for welders, electricians, carpenters, and numerous other trades, and this is only the beginning. Once the pier is completed, that same skilled workforce will be needed to carry out the assembly work on the pier for offshore […]

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Can a $100M redevelopment plan turn Pratt Street into Hartford’s crown ‘jewel’?

Earlier this year, Shelbourne bought nearly all of the commercial buildings on Pratt St.’s south side, from 196 Trumbull St. to the building next door up to 57 Pratt St., and is part of a triumvirate of developer-landlords that recently unveiled an ambitious $100 million redevelopment vision they say would not just transform Pratt Street, […]

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Hinsdale School renovation focus of hearing in Winsted

The town already has set aside $315,075 in its capital improvement budget to cover costs related to renovations, improvements and additions to the school. Thus the town would not borrow more than $17,109,925. The town also is anticipating reimbursement from the state at $6,959,925, meaning it would finance over 20 years a total of $9,950,000. […]

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Lamont readies a transportation reboot

The state currently borrows about $800 million per year for infrastructure work, combining that with roughly $750 million in matching federal grants. But the DOT says Connecticut needs to spend at least $2 billion annually to make long-term repairs and strategic improvements. As originally proposed, tolls could raise about $800 million annually, according to administration […]

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Don’t Change the Rules for Construction Apprenticeship

The politics are tangled when it comes to the Trump administration’s initial decision—which still could change—not to include construction in its proposed apprenticeship rule revision. Including construction in the proposed plan could further accelerate the shrinking of the union segment by boosting open-shop training with more government support. Higher-paying union jobs can add to construction […]

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How to land a government construction contract

Construction companies sometimes see government contracting as prohibitively competitive and believe the pay is low and the bid requirements are too time- and effort-consuming. But this is not the case, and should not hold construction companies back from bidding on a sector that offers huge growth opportunities. It’s super important for a contractor to follow […]

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Downtown Danbury to get $4 million face-lift

The Streetscape Renaissance Project could begin as soon as mid-November, when voters will have decided whether Republican Mayor Mark Boughton or Democratic challenger Chris Setaro will lead them into a new decade. On one hand, more shops and businesses have closed than have opened in recent months — including Danbury Democratic Party chairwoman Andrea Gartner’s […]

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With zoning changes, Groton officials hope to boost growth around sub base

The zoning review is part of a larger Joint Land Use Study, through the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments and funded by the Department of Defense, that is analyzing economic conditions and zoning, as well as housing and transportation needs related to Electric Boat and the sub base, according to the presentation.  The town’s recently approved […]

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Construction on Arizona Replacement Border Barrier Begins

Construction crews broke ground Thursday on a small portion of the $664 million border fence project in the Arizona desert that is funded through President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration. Crews plan on installing 30-foot (9-meter) steel fencing to replace older barriers on two miles in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, next to the official […]

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Bridge work in Durham will run September to December

The town’s first selectman is alerting residents of upcoming bridge construction on Cream Pot Road this fall. The latest construction schedule from Loureiro has them installing detour signs and starting work Sept. 9, closing the road to through traffic Sept. 11, and opening the road Dec. 7,   https://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Bridge-work-in-Durham-will-run-September-to-14373354.php

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Torrington Franklin Street redevelopment ready to launch

Mayor Elinor Carbone and several other city officials gathered in the Mayor’s Office Monday afternoon to announce the launching of the project. The project will create a “civic space” that is aiming to lure residents and others to the area and enhance the prospects of existing and potential future businesses in the immediate area and […]

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DOT timetable takes Plainville trail project through 2024

The state Department of Transportation, now in the surveying and design phase of extending the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail through Plainville, has provided a timetable for three phases of construction. This will finish connecting it to the rest of the 81.2-mile trail, which goes through Connecticut and Massachusetts.   http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-Plainville+News/357009/dot-timetable-takes-plainville-trail-project-through-2024

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CT DOT disputes report on highway spending

The state Department of Transportation says the report does not take population density into account, which means many of the states with the highest rankings in the report are those with the least population. The average population density of the 10 states receiving the best rankings is 81 people per square mile. Connecticut has 738 […]

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CT offshore wind may face some rough seas

The state and its offshore-wind-loving neighbors all face a year-end expiration of a federal tax credit that helps finance these projects – the first major attempts in the U.S. But in Connecticut some problems – including at least one self-inflicted one – could mean forgoing that money. https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/ct-offshore-wind-may-face-some-rough-seas  

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New plan cuts more than $1B off New York rail tunnel cost

The plan announced Friday envisions design and construction savings that would reduce the new tunnel’s estimated cost from just over $11 billion to $9.5 billion. Repairing the existing century-old tunnel that was damaged in 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, and is a source of frequent delays due to crumbling infrastructure, would cost about $1.8 billion, or about […]

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Norwich Public Utilities completes Hamilton Avenue gasline project

Norwich Public Utilities has announced the completion of its largest natural gas construction project for the 2019 construction season. During the project, 5,800 feet of natural gas main was replaced along Hamilton Avenue between East Main Street and Smith Avenue. Work on the project, which was completed entirely by NPU employees, began in April and […]

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Report: Potholes linger in CT’s road upkeep

Connecticut ranked 46th overall in Reason’s 2018 highway report. On spending, Connecticut ranks 46th in total spending per mile ($209,157) and 47th in capital and bridge costs per mile ($96,956). Despite its relatively small highway system — it is the nation’s 44th-largest — Connecticut sits in the bottom five in three of Reason’s spending-per-mile categories […]

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$14 million North Haven Police Department renovation complete

Construction on the building at 8 Linsley St. is finished and the department is fully operational in the renovated building. The renovation of the building cost about $14 million and a new townwide communications project, which included a network built in to the school district, cost roughly $4 million. The renovation will meet the department’s […]

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Study Ranks Every State’s Highway System, Finds Road Conditions Worsening In Important Categories

The 24th Annual Highway Report, based on data that states submitted to the federal government, ranks each state’s highway system in 13 categories, including traffic fatalities, pavement condition, congestion, spending per mile, administrative costs and more. Traffic congestion remains about the same from the previous report, with Americans spending an average of 35 hours a […]

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Middletown middle school project runs into hitches during demolition

During the demolition process, when the auditorium, music rooms, main office and guidance department areas were knocked down, workers discovered asbestos between the exterior wall of the building and cinder blocks, Gaylord said. Another unforeseen complication arose when the aging electrical wiring for the security and fire systems had to be redone in the “main […]

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It’s time to act on tolls: Op-ed

It’s time for the Democratic leaders of the General Assembly to demonstrate courage, call the Legislature into special session, and enact tolls. They need to stop dithering, and pretending that they need Republican votes. It’s clear that we need to return tolls to Connecticut. It’s time for Democratic leaders to stiffen their spines and get […]

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Connecticut launches first wind-power-specific auction process

Connecticut officials are looking to bolster the state’s renewable energy portfolio, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has released a request for proposals seeking up to 2,000 megawatts of offshore wind power. The state already has committed to purchasing 304 megawatts of electricity from the Revolution Wind project, one of the bidders selected […]

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On a fishing trip with Gov. Cuomo, Gov. Lamont discusses transportation, tourism, energy — and catches a few trout

Lamont said the two Democrats jumped quickly into the important issues of the day and how they could work collaboratively together to solve mutual problems. The topics included improvements to the Metro-North Commuter Railroad, which connects Connecticut to midtown Manhattan. They also discussed Cuomo’s recent push for “congestion pricing” in Manhattan that allows higher prices […]

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Lamont’s family fight with Dems over borrowing priorities

After sparring with legislators for much of the summer, the Lamont administration is sending lawmakers a clear message: Until lawmakers settle on even a short-term plan upgrading Connecticut’s aging infrastructure, other projects will have to wait. Ryan Drajewicz, the governor’s chief of staff, said the governor is standing firm on limiting borrowing for a priority […]

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Prevailing wages are important to workers, contractors and taxpayers

Prevailing wages do not increase the cost of publicly funded construction projects. In those states that have repealed prevailing wage laws, the promise of lower-cost public construction projects never materialized. Casually concluding that eliminating prevailing wage requirements will automatically reduce construction costs is an out-of-touch misconception of today’s economic environment. Prevailing wages create a level […]

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Construction workers prepare to battle former ally Trump

At issue is a deal gone bad between Trump and North America’s Building Trades Unions over a Labor Department apprenticeship initiative, the politics of which have grown more complicated since last month’s ouster of Secretary Alexander Acosta. Leaders of the union federation worry that the final version will undermine their own job-training programs and create […]

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Despite Federal Pushback, $2.8B Mass. Offshore Wind Project Will Proceed

Developers of the 800-MW Vineyard Wind offshore wind project in Massachusetts, set to be the first such utility-scale project in the U.S. and the country’s largest, say they are committed to push through on its $2.8 billion in construction despite a sudden Trump Administration permitting setback. On Aug. 9, the department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy […]

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