CT contracting watchdogs asked not to talk without director’s OK

An appointee of Gov. Ned Lamont is proposing that Connecticut’s contracting watchdog panel not publicly discuss its work — which includes investigations of Executive Branch agencies — without clearing it with him. The contracting board, which grew out of the scandal that ultimately sent former Gov. John G. Rowland to federal prison, performs sensitive work. […]

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How CT plans to memorialize a historic Farmington River dam after demolishing it

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is working on a plan to demolish the now-obsolete dam and open up the river for fish passage. But project officials must contend with the historical aspects and impacts of any potential removal, which they discussed at a public information meeting in Avon on July 2. And […]

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Hamden’s High Meadows site plans show more than 200 apartments and 64 condos

Dakota Partners, Inc., Massachusetts-based developer, proposed to build 202 apartments, some of them affordable, and 68 condominiums while keeping about 22 acres of the property as open space. The state offered to sell the property to Hamden for $1.3 million. Instead of buying it, the town issued a request for proposals that carried an asking […]

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Data centers could transform local CT communities, but some officials are hesitant

Efforts to improve Connecticut’s position as a potential host for data centers appear to be stuck in neutral at the moment, despite an increased focus on artificial intelligence and how the two are intertwined. To qualify for the 20-year term of incentives, data centers must make a qualified investment in the site of $50 million […]

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Naugatuck River Greenway Trail to expand with $5.7M federal grant: ‘Transformative project’

The $5.725 million grant, from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity fund, was awarded to the Central Naugatuck Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization for planning and designing a segment of the Naugatuck River trail, according to a statement. The non-motorized, multi-use trail being developed will follow the river for 44 miles through parts of […]

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Amtrak Awards $1.3B Contract to Construct New Moveable Rail Bridge in Connecticut

Amtrak will soon begin construction of a new, $1.3 billion Connecticut River Bridge between the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme following the award of a design-bid-build contract to O&G/Tutor Perini, a joint venture of two major construction firms. It will be primarily funded by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), due to […]

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I-91 redevelopment brings O&G Industries, CT’s largest privately held construction firm, to Wallingford

O&G Industries, the largest privately held construction firm in Connecticut, is moving into a new 9,992-square-foot office space at 900 Northrop Road, the firm announced recently. The move comes after the state awarded O&G a major contract to carry out the reconfiguration project of I-91,1-691-and Route 15 Interchange in Meriden. O&G is the main contractor […]

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Norwalk secures $14M for bike, pedestrian improvements on MLK Drive, near SoNo train station

The efforts to revitalize South Norwalk and improve pedestrian safety continue with the city receiving $14 million from a U.S. Department of Transportation program. Norwalk’s MLK Corridor Equitable Mobility Enhancement Project is receiving $14 million to fund improvements on 2 miles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and six other roadways surrounding the South […]

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Ørsted and Eversource Partner with Connecticut State Building Trades Training Institute to Support Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program

Ørsted and Eversource, developers of Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm, Revolution Wind, and the Connecticut State Building Trades Training Institute (CSBTTI), today announced the launch of a collaborative, pre-apprenticeship training program for 15 Eastern Connecticut residents. The upcoming cohort will include 15 trainees from the New London area, where workers at the State Pier are […]

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$40M approved for next phase of New London Coast Guard museum project

A recent funding approval will keep the planned National Coast Guard Museum on track for a 2026 opening on the city’s waterfront, project officials said on Thursday. The National Coast Guard Museum Association Board of Directors on June 12 approved allotting $40 million for the next phase of construction on the 89,000-square-foot, six-story museum behind […]

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Opinion: New London at center of vital emerging American energy industry

Connecticut’s first offshore wind project, Revolution Wind, is under construction today, with the wind turbine components being staged out of New London State Pier. As the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP, considers which offshore wind project should follow Revolution Wind, it should look to maximize the role that State Pier will play […]

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Failure to meet surging data center energy demand will jeopardize economic growth, utility execs warn

After a more than decade-long period of largely flat growth, electricity demand is poised to skyrocket by 2030 as the artificial intelligence revolution, the expansion of chip manufacturing, and the electrification of the vehicle fleet all coincide as the U.S. is trying to address climate change. The tech sector’s build out of data centers to […]

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Amid decarbonization efforts, New England’s energy demand expected to increase 23% over next decade

New England is responsible for 2.8% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., Dolan said, and much of the region’s energy policy is driven by decarbonization. While alternative energy options like solar and wind have had a lot of time in the spotlight recently, Dolan emphasized the need to continue to support existing clean […]

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Deficiencies in New Milford High School’s ‘traumatic’ roof project to be fixed

Work to remediate sections of the New Milford High School roof that were insufficiently repaired is expected to be completed over the summer, starting in July, officials say. The six-year-long ordeal has included two fires, leaks and the discovery that some panels had been fastened improperly. The town and school board have been discussing their […]

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Updated plan for Gold Star Highway properties calls for 390 apartments, realigned entrance

An updated plan for the town-owned 517 & 529 Gold Star Highway properties, along with adjacent privately-owned parcels, calls for 390 apartments, housed within five, five-story buildings, and amenities that include a clubhouse and pool. The Town Council at its Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday evening approved the updated concept plan and a one-year […]

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New schools project in Norwich is $50M over budget

he school construction project will cost at least $50 million more than the $385 million approved by voters in 2022, due to increased construction and labor expenses, project officials said. According to updated estimates provided by Mike Faenz, the city’s owner’s representative from Construction Solutions, Inc., the cost of the four new elementary schools now […]

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With Norwalk High School and SoNo School under construction, Common Council authorizes $200M+

For the high school, the council approved a supplemental appropriation of $189 million to have the full $239 million project cost authorized. The council also issued $15 million in general obligation bonds as “cash on hand” for the project, according to Chief Financial Officer Jared Schmitt. The state plans to reimburse the city for 80 […]

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New Partnership Bets on Updated Mixed-Use Model for Southeastern Connecticut

Old-Lyme-based READCO announced last week that it had sold its portfolio —more than two million square feet of commercial space— to Glastonbury-based Trio Properties, which manages about 2,500 multifamily units in Connecticut and 15 other states. As part of the deal, the companies’ owners decided on a partnership to jointly manage a real estate development […]

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East Hartford park gets funding to renovate river walk and connect it to other trails in town

East Hartford has received $262,750 through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program to help address erosion and flooding issues at Great River Park on East River Drive, part of $10 million in grants announced by Gov. Ned Lamont and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection earlier this month to make improvements to 45 […]

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Lawmakers uneasy over special session bill on Aquarion sale

Without a public hearing or other vetting, the state Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a measure that would allow a New Haven-based public water authority to acquire one of the nation’s largest investor-owned water companies, Aquarion Water Company. Public authorities are outside the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, so Aquarion’s operations, […]

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Construction hasn’t started, but West Hartford luxury apartments already selling

Center Park Place, a mixed-use residential and commercial infill development to be constructed at Arapahoe and LaSalle roads and Farmington Avenue, will feature up to 58 luxury condominiums that are already listed for sale at more than $1 million. The project includes demolishing two buildings and erecting two new buildings. One of the new buildings […]

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Pratt & Whitney proposes nearly 50% increase in size of new East Hartford office building

Pratt & Whitney is proposing to increase the size of a new planned office building on its East Hartford campus by nearly 50%, with the addition of two stories, including outdoor amenities for employees and greenspace. The jet-engine maker has submitted a revised zoning application to the town, which is on the agenda for the […]

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Cleanup underway in Meriden so a 120-year old piano factory can become apartments

Environmental workers recently began clean up on the former Aeolian Organ and Music Co. factory as the first step in a $56 million housing development for 82 low and moderate-income families. The adaptive reuse project will convert a historic player piano factory at 85 Tremont St. into an apartment community and is expected to revitalize […]

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Norwich, New London, Preston seek state funding for major local projects

In grant requests submitted Friday, Norwich is seeking a total of $23.3 million in three requests, topped by the $17 million request to complete the demolition and cleanup of the partially collapsed and abandoned former Capehart Mill in Greeneville. Norwich last week received approval for a $4 million state brownfields grant to begin the massive […]

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Gold Star Bridge path to be renovated

The state Department of Transportation plans to widen the sidewalk across the southbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge between Groton and New London so it is safer and easier to access for pedestrians and bicyclists. Tracey Brais, project manager with the DOT, told a room of more than 30 people in New London City Hall’s Council […]

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Norwalk signs off officially on $47M in renovations at Jefferson School amid a wave of construction

The school district unveiled the $47 million project two years ago with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but documents now reflect the renovate-as-new project is officially complete, according to Nick Dua, communications and marketing director for Norwalk Public Schools. “The site was modified to improve the arrivals and drop-off at the school with a new separate bus […]

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Public invited to weigh in on Gold Star Memorial Bridge sidewalk proposal

The public is invited to comment Monday on a state plan to improve pedestrian and cyclist access to the Gold Star Memorial Bridge. The state Department of Transportation will host a presentation and question-and-answer session at 7 p.m. at New London City Hall, 181 State St., related to planned improvements to the Interstate 95 southbound […]

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Norwich Public Utilities making major improvements to its drinking water system

Norwich Public Utilities is taking advantage of unprecedented increases in federal grant support to launch several water system improvement projects. These including upgrading water tanks, installing a major water line and locating any remaining lead lines to customer homes. The utility needed City Council approval Monday to increase financing for two projects and add a […]

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Eastern Co. building razed for restaurant, urgent care facility

Demolition began Monday of a nearly century-old structure, the former Eastern Company building, to make way for new businesses including a Chipotle Restaurant. The Zoning Commission in April 2023 approved the site permit application for the applicant, Berlin RE Development of Farmington, for a proposed Chipotle restaurant and retail store at the former headquarters of […]

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CT diesel tax to jump 3 cents after yearlong freeze

Connecticut’s trucking industry will face a small tax hike next month when the state tax on diesel fuel rises slightly more than 3 cents per gallon. The diesel tax and highway mileage fee each represent a relatively modest share of the state budget’s Special Transportation Fund, which covers operating costs for the Departments of Transportation […]

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Developers Pitch 444-Apartment Project in Milford as Alternative to Affordable Housing

Wheelers Farm Partners and Greenview Equities have asked the city to change the zoning of a five-building, 47-acre complex at 470-488 Wheelers Farm Road to allow the addition of 444 apartments and some commercial or retail uses, according to their 85-page proposal. The hook for both sides might be a first in Milford: a compromise […]

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With $2M brownfields grant and new ownership, former Stanadyne campus in Windsor looks for new life

A $2 million brownfields grant was awarded June 14 by the state Department of Economic and Community Development for remediation work at the former Stanadyne plant at 90-92 Deerfield Road. Another $200,000 was awarded to conduct an environmental assessment study of a neighboring property, which will collectively become part of a new Connecticut River Business […]

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New Britain housing redevelopment wins zoning approval for 850 KW solar array

The 154-unit affordable housing conversion of a former factory building in New Britain got a boost from the city last week with municipal officials unanimously supporting a zoning change to allow a solar energy array on the property. New Britain’s Common Council last week voted to allow developers to construct a solar facility at 321 […]

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New $112M Greenwich Central Middle School finally gets planning OK — but it wasn’t unanimous

The $112 million project was given the go-ahead by the commission, with one dissenting vote, Tuesday night following a final presentation by the Central Middle School Building Committee. CMS principal Tom Healy told the commission, “we’re proud of what we have in front of you.” He said the “collaborative effort” behind the project was impressive. […]

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Steelpointe Harbor Developer Inks Deal To Build Residence Inn By Marriott

A Residence Inn by Marriott is scheduled to commence construction in 2025, according to a news release issued by Bobby Christoph Jr. developer of the mixed-use Steelpointe Harbor which has started work on the first phase of housing including luxury and workforce apartments. True North Hotel Group Inc. and Bridgeport Landing Development have finalized a […]

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Lamont responds to delay in congestion pricing: ‘Look, you’ve got to pay for transportation’

Gov. Ned Lamont appeared skeptical this week of a decision by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to halt the rollout of a congestion pricing plan that would have funded mass transit improvements throughout the tri-state area. The plan, which would have charged most drivers $15 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, was expected […]

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Great Wolf Lodge ‘topped out’; opening set for June 15, 2025

A Great Wolf Resorts executive announced Wednesday the $300 million waterpark resort the company’s been developing next to Foxwoods Resort Casino will open June 15, 2025. The good-natured exchange, which took place during remarks that preceded a traditional “topping out” ceremony on the construction site opposite Foxwoods’ Grand Pequot Tower, spoke volumes about Great Wolf’s […]

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It took 3 votes, but Hartford City Council OKs CCMC pedestrian bridge

After defeating an amendment and a motion to postpone the vote, the Hartford City Council passed a resolution Monday night granting air rights for a pedestrian bridge over Washington Street. The resolution, which was approved along party lines, allows Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) to construct a bridge connecting the $280 million, eight-story wing of […]

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With major projects in the queue, Enfield could finally find its economic development ‘stride’

Four major projects would bring a combination of housing, recreation and mass transit to the town of about 42,000 residents, while repurposing properties whose uses are becoming obsolete. The proposed $250 million Enfield Square Mall redevelopment is the largest planned project with the greatest potential economic impact, said Donald Poland, senior vice president of urban […]

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These 7 major road construction projects across CT could affect travel this summer

As of Monday, the Connecticut Department of Transportation was engaged in 180 construction projects in all corners of the state, according to an online database that is updated regularly by the agency. Hundreds of other projects are in the design phase prior to construction. Much of that work is being fueled by Congress’ Bipartisan Infrastructure […]

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I-95 in CT is among America’s most congested roads. Here’s why there’s no ‘easy solution.’

Highway-closing accidents are nothing new on the I-95 corridor between Greenwich and New Haven, a 48-mile stretch of interstate built in the late 1950s and designed to handle less than half of today’s daily volume of about 150,000 vehicles. The 2023 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard ranked the southbound portion of the Stamford urban area – […]

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$500 million of work begins at one of CT’s worst interchanges: ‘Everyone hates driving through here’

Located roughly near the geographic center of the state, the merger of three highways — Interstates 91 and 691, as well as state Route 15 — forms a sprawling interchange that carries an average of 260,000 vehicles every day. Tuesday’s groundbreaking was largely ceremonial, as work on the $500 million reconstruction project actually began late […]

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Lamont celebrates highway project amid industry frustration

Lamont and Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto of DOT hosted a groundbreaking marking the second phase of a three-phase plan for traffic mitigation and safety measures on the I-91, I-691 and Route 15 interchange in Meriden. The first two phases cost $135 million in state funding and $200 million in federal funds from President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure […]

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New Britain’s 12-Year-Long Downtown Revitalization Project Nears Completion

Twelve years after New Britain launched an eight-phase program to beautify downtown, improve pedestrian and bike access and encourage business growth, the Public Works Department will complete the final part of the project this week. The Complete Streets project, the bulk of which covers about four miles of downtown, has attracted over $250 million in […]

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Bond Commission Approves $74 Million For Flood Mitigation, Affordable Housing, Other Projects

Within a total of about $857 million in new borrowing approved on Friday, the State Bond Commission voted to approve $74 million for its Community Investment Fund last week, including major allocations for affordable housing and other issues. The Community Investment Fund 2030 – which is part of the larger bond allocations for the fiscal […]

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Norwalk launches $25 million revitalization of Wall Street area: ‘Redesign an entire downtown’

The revitalization of Norwalk’s Wall Street area has been a community goal since a flood in 1955 devastated the area. Now the city is undertaking $25 million in grant-funded projects to revive it. So far, Norwalk has been allocated $18 million in state and federal grants to redesign the streets, expand the sidewalks, add more […]

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Norwalk secures over $9 million in state bond funds to support housing, education, traffic safety

The city is receiving $9 million in state bond funds, including more than $6.4 million from the state Community Investment Fund, that will aid two redevelopment projects in South Norwalk. A total of $3.4 million is allocated to the redevelopment of Meadow Gardens. Under the authority of the Norwalk Housing Authority and in partnership with […]

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Two proposed Norwich elementary schools receive wetlands approvals

The first two new elementary schools in a $385 million school construction project received their first local permit approvals Thursday, with plans showing how the two schools would be situated on their properties. The Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission approved wetlands applications for the proposed new Greeneville and John B. Stanton elementary schools. Both […]

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State approves millions in funding for local projects such as Montville animal shelter

The commission approved $2 million for Montville to build a new animal control facility to replace the current one at 225 Maple Ave., which for years has failed to meet state Department of Agriculture regulations. The new shelter, which will be built in the same location, at the town’s public works department, is expected to […]

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After bargain acquisition, owners breathing new life into long-neglected Windsor industrial/office complex; major warehouse expansion planned

Terrio has been the property manager for the site, which includes both office and industrial space, for 31 years, long enough to have worked for all four previous landlords. A quick tour of the complex in mid-May, however, demonstrated that things are different this time, with Terrio expressing his satisfaction with the newest owners: Bradford […]

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Moody’s downgrades water utility’s credit rating, citing weakening finances, debt

Moody’s Ratings has downgraded Aquarion Water Co.’s credit rating one notch, placing it into a higher-risk category. In late May, Moody’s lowered the water utility’s credit rating from A3 to Baa1, noting its low overall business risk, with a weakening financial profile. The credit rating agency said that Aquarion’s rating change reflected increased risk from […]

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DOT Aims to Curb Work Zone Speeding with Expanded Camera Program

From April to December 2023, DOT officials piloted a work zone camera program at three different sites, issuing 24,900 warning citations for speeding. With the threat of a $75 fine for repeat offenses, most drivers complied with speed limits, officials said, resulting in fewer than 750 second-offense violations. The DOT, led by Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, […]

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The country’s first utility-run geothermal heating and cooling system launches in Framingham

The Framingham system consists of a giant underground loop filled with water and antifreeze, similar to the way gas is delivered to several houses in a neighborhood. Water in the loop absorbs heat from underground, which remains at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit all year. Households have their own heat pump units that provide heating and […]

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Mixed-use apartment project breaks ground in Windsor

The Residences at Bowfield Green mixed-use development in downtown Windsor is set to take shape as town officials and members of the development team broke ground on the project Monday. The development by Sachdev Real Estate Development Group and property owner Dr. Mohan Sachdev, priced at more than $20 million, will feature a residential and […]

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Stamford Mill Road bridge closed after steel beams found with ‘severe deterioration,’ report reveals

A small Stamford bridge on Mill Road that was closed down last week was in “critical condition,” with “significant cracking” of the pavement and “severe deterioration” of the steel beams underneath, a construction report states. The condition of the bridge, which is on Mill Road just east of the intersection with Old Long Ridge Road […]

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Naugatuck Valley Greenway among 45 projects statewide

The governor’s office and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Monday announced the release of a series of grants totaling $10 million to finance the planning, building, expansion, and improvement of 45 multiuse trails located in towns and cities throughout Connecticut. The funding is being provided through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant […]

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Naugatuck’s Rubber Avenue project likely bonded

The State Bond Commission is expected at its meeting Friday to approve nearly $6 million to the borough of Naugatuck to support the revitalization of the Rubber Avenue corridor. In late April, state legislators representing Naugatuck and Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess celebrated the approval of a $5,754,493 grant for the project through Community Investment […]

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Danbury allows rehab hospital to cut back on parking as trees are cleared for project on west side

As workers began clearing trees this week to make room for a rehabilitation hospital on one of the last construction sites in the village-size neighborhood known as the Reserve, the city of Danbury gave a parking break to the inpatient facility to prevent “a field of empty asphalt.” During a public hearing Tuesday, Lichtenauer referred […]

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Norwich Public Utilities sewage treatment project to receive loan from Electric Division

For the second straight year, the NPU Sewer Division has received approval for a $15.5 million short-term line of credit from the NPU Electric Division to help cover costs of the ongoing work to build a new sewage treatment plant on Hollyhock Island near Norwich Harbor. The Board of Public Utilities Commissioners, which doubles as […]

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Middletown leaders want CT DOT to suspend plans to remove Route 9 traffic lights

City officials sent a strong message to the state Department of Transportation Thursday, asking them to halt their $143 million plan to remove two traffic lights on Route 9, spurred on by significant issues raised by people opposed to the latest design. Council President Gene Nocera has acknowledged that local legislators have no authority over […]

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Here are some of the projects CT plans to spend $856 million on, if approved

Connecticut officials will meet this week to consider approval of more than $856 million for projects that range from complex and costly bridge replacements to installing toilets at state parks. The decision of whether to fund those capital improvements is up to the State Bond Commission, a 10-member body chaired by Gov. Ned Lamont. The […]

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Bridgeport self-storage facility at former North End Stop & Shop gets court-ordered zoning OK

Scott first sought the necessary zoning approval a year-and-a-half ago. Some residents, activists and elected officials, including Mayor Joe Ganim during his re-election campaign, publicly opposed the project and the appointed zoning commission rejected the application last June in a 4-2 vote. Scott sued in state Superior Court and won in March. The presiding judge, […]

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Torrington receives $1.6 million grant to rebuild sewer pumping station: To ‘protect environment’

The sewer plant’s hardest-working pumping station on Harris Drive, which was built in 1979, draws from seven smaller stations in the northern area of Torrington, feeding to the main plant off South Main Street. “We’ve had up to 18 inches of water outside, and more than that in here,” sewer plant administrator Ed Tousey said. […]

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Gov. Lamont vetoes first bill of year, rejecting proposal doubling cap on bidding

Gov. Ned Lamont vetoed his first bill from this year’s legislative session on Wednesday, sending back to lawmakers a proposal that would have doubled the cap on municipal contracts exempt from competitive bidding practices. The legislation, Senate Bill 226, proposed raising the minimum threshold for competitive bidding on all municipal contracts from $25,000 to $50,000 […]

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Fitch gives A+ rating to pending $669M Yale New Haven Health bond issuance; $333M will be used for capital spending

Fitch Ratings said Tuesday it has assigned A+ ratings to $669 million in bonds that will be issued on behalf of Yale New Haven Health (YNHH). Proceeds from the bond issuance are expected to be used to refund the health system’s existing debt, as well as to provide approximately $333 million to support Yale New […]

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Historic New Haven mill site approved for major apartment redevelopment goes up for sale

Earlier this month, a 1.8-acre property — which has approvals in place for a multifamily redevelopment — was listed for sale. The parcel at 446A Blake St. has been approved for 144 residential units to be completed over three phases. Phase one is a ground-up development of a new five-story, 55-unit apartment building. Phase two […]

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Linear trail intersections under safety review in Southington, new trail segment to open this summer

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail’s intersections with local roads previously drew concern in 2021, after a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured in the trail crosswalk on West Main Street in Plantsville center. While there were bright yellow signs warning motorists to yield for pedestrians, town officials looked to increase pedestrian and motorist safety along […]

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Darn that CT traffic jam: These major projects, traffic shifts will add to backups this summer

One that’s nearing completion is the interchange of Interstate 84 and Route 8 in Waterbury, known as “The Mixmaster,” which is composed of a stack of bridges. “We’re finally going to be finished with that project by the end of October,” Morgan said. “What’s going to be happening over the next five months or so […]

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Middletown Residents Push Back on $143M Route 9 Revamp

Residents are urging the Common Council to request a delay from the state Department of Transportation on removing Route 9 traffic signals, citing negative economic and environmental impacts. During a presentation to residents on April 30, DOT project manager Stephen Hall told residents that the traffic lights were causing a “significantly higher” number of traffic […]

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Ex-CT Deputy Budget Director Diamantis linked to bribery scheme years after Torrington courthouse project

Diamantis, 67, is accused by the FBI of extorting private contractors into paying him thousands of dollars in bribes as the director of the state’s Office of School Construction Grants and Review. A lawyer and former state representative, Diamantis posted a $500,000 bond following his arrest on 22 charges, including extortion, bribery, conspiracy and making […]

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Pawcatuck theater developer proposes expansion of $80M project

In a new application to the Planning and Zoning Commission, READCO of Old Lyme and its development partner TRIO have proposed a revision of the master plan for the former Hoyt’s/Regal Cinema property on Route 2. READCO plans to expand its Pawcatuck theater redevelopment project by adding six adjacent properties, 108 more apartments and demolishing […]

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Apartment project near Dunkin’ Park clears key hurdle, will bring 269 units to CT’s capital city

Funding secured, developer Randy Salvatore is moving ahead with plans to build a new mixed-use complex on the edge of downtown Hartford, confident that the demand for rental apartments in the capital city remains strong. A financing package to redevelop the former RPI campus near Dunkin’ Park won key approval on Wednesday, and work has […]

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Fairfield to close part of Riverside Drive as crews rebuild culverts, tide gates to limit floods

Part of Riverside Drive will shut down for more than a year in the coming months as construction crews rebuild coastal infrastructure that keeps floodwaters in check. Fairfield Engineering Manager Bill Hurley said the town will launch a more than $5.5 million project this summer to replace the tide gates and pipes that channel water […]

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Eversource upgrades gas lines on Danbury’s Main Street, with repaving work planned for July

The utility provider is working closely with the city of Danbury and the Connecticut Department of Transportation on the project, “and our work will be complete in June to meet DOT’s schedule for their planned work along Main Street,” Ratliff said. Then DOT will take over the project. Iadarola said that under the current schedule […]

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When will Stamford’s Cedar Heights Road bridge be done? 12 months late, officials say.

A project to replace the bridge on Cedar Heights Road is now expected to be finished in November — a year later than initially scheduled. City Engineer Lou Casolo has said that the contractor for the “extremely complex” project, A. Vitti Excavators, has needed to submit plans for handling the flow of the Rippowam River, […]

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Ørsted-Eversource Partnership Announces Cancellation of Agreement for Charybdis (Updated)

The Offshore Wind Venture partnering Ørsted and Eversource told CT Examiner on Wednesday that the companies had canceled an agreement with Dominion Energy to use the as-yet-unbuilt Charybdis to install turbines off East Coast of the United States. The planned 472-foot vessel would be the first Jones Act compliant vessel for installing offshore turbines, clearing […]

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Meriden receives $975,000 in EPA funds to clean up Church and Morse site downtown

The city will receive $975,240 in federal funding to clean a brownfield and foundation rubble at the former Church and Morse building, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week. Funding for the Brownfield Cleanup Grant come from the bipartisan infrastructure law and will be used to cleanup the 0.33-acre vacant parcel. The site was […]

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Officials tout CT medical facility that will be partially doctor-owned: ‘Outcomes are better’

Trinity and Johnson Memorial Hospital officials made their case to convert its surgery center in Enfield to a freestanding outpatient facility partially owned by physicians during a public hearing before the state Office of Health Strategy on Wednesday. A request for a certificate of need through OHS calls for a $17.8 million facility at Johnson […]

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Danbury career academy to earn millions more in state reimbursement due to increased costs

Local leaders applauded the new funding for the high school, as well as $1.9 million to replace the roof at Ellsworth Avenue Elementary School and $10.43 million to renovate the Danbury High School science labs. Lawmakers also touted a $7.54 million increase in the city’s share of state Education Cost Sharing grant monies. Now, the […]

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New $1.3M Norwalk River dock allows Walk Bridge construction, local maritime business to continue

The new $1.3 million state-funded dock allows the Norwalk Seaport Association and Maritime Aquarium’s vessels to continue operating on the Norwalk River amid the $1 billion project to replace the 127-year-old Walk Bridge, according to Walk Bridge project manager Gus Melo. The bridge has failed dozens of times in the last decade to close properly […]

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City Council approves $25M for senior center and health campus in Meriden

The City Council voted 7-5 to add $25 million into the city’s capital improvement plan this week to build a new senior center and health department on Cook Avenue. Mayor Kevin Scarpati introduced the resolution to include the $25 million in the capital improvement budget after vetoing the council’s approved spending plan two weeks ago. […]

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East Windsor looks at several options to renovate or reconfigure its schools

With buildings built in the 1950s and ’60s and a declining student population, town and school officials are currently looking into how to renovate or even reconfigure the town’s schools. In February, a facilities study done by the Construction Solutions Group determined that Broad Brook Elementary, East Windsor Middle School, and East Windsor High School […]

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West Hartford is ‘refining’ its town center redesign, moving forward with major roadway projects

Original plans presented in November showed the town was ready to shift all street parking from angled parking to parallel parking, which would decrease the amount of street parking but mean more of the streetscape could be used for wider sidewalks, expanded outdoor dining, and other amenities like street furniture. Those plans also showed a […]

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Removal of Route 9 traffic signals at dangerous Middletown exits could begin in spring 2027

The gravity of removing traffic lights that bring Route 9 traffic to a halt in downtown Middletown was evidenced during a state Department of Transportation informational hearing late last month. CTDOT Project Manager Stephen Hall delivered a presentation April 30 at Wesleyan University on the draft proposal to reconfigure exits in the often highly congested […]

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Stratford celebrates milestone in contamination cleanup — ‘Take a lesson from Raymark’

A one-third mile stretch of the creek, now clean, had held some of the contaminated soil that the since-defunct Raymark Industries had dumped across Stratford while manufacturing automotive brake products before shutting down in 1989. Since September 2020, an EPA-led project has removed about 95,000 cubic yards of the contaminated soil from the creek and […]

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In Stonington, school board grappling with structural problems at middle school

Structural issues and the presence of asbestos at the middle school have raised questions about how and where students in grades 6 through 8 will attend school next year. Superintendent Mary Ann Butler said at a school board meeting Thursday that engineers who inspected the school found no immediate safety concerns. However, she said, they […]

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CT roads need 38 new and expensive noise barriers. Why there’s no money to pay for them.

A study of noise along Connecticut’s roadways has recommended that the state Department of Transportation erect 38 new noise barriers along its interstate highways and state roads. However, according to a DOT spokeswoman, there is no federal or state money to pay for them at this point. The study was conducted to bring the state […]

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Buyer found for Enfield Square; mall to be converted into retail, housing, hotels with $250M project

The dilapidated Enfield Square mall is slated to be transformed — through a $250 million project — into a new mixed-use area, complete with retail, housing, two hotels, and recreation space. Woodsonia Acquisitions, based in Nebraska, has entered a purchase and sale agreement with New York-based Namdar Realty Group to buy the mall that was […]

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Avangrid says it’s plan to invest $191M in CT gas companies, UI hinges on legal, regulatory rulings

Orange-based Avangrid, the corporate parent of The United Illuminating Co. as well as Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, is looking to move ahead with $191.6 million in capital investments covering the operations of its utilities in the state. The ability to do that depends on both regulatory decisions and an ongoing legal appeal, […]

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Amtrak Talks Connecticut River Bridge Replacement, High-Speed Rail Planning

Since 2016, when southeastern Connecticut learned of a plan by the Federal Railroad Administration to construct a high-speed rail bypass through several historic towns in the region between Old Saybrook and Charlestown, RI, town officials and members of the public have been paying closer attention to rail projects along the Northeast Corridor. Last Friday, CT […]

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New Ninth Square mixed-use project breaks ground in New Haven

City and state officials along with members of the development team Friday morning broke ground on a new mixed-use, housing development at the corner of State and Chapel streets in New Haven’s Historic Ninth Square District. The $56.4 million project, led by Boston-based Beacon Communities, is an adaptive reuse with an eye toward historic preservation. […]

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DOT to hold information meeting on Groton bridge replacement

The state Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public information meeting at 7 p.m. Monday on the planned replacement of the bridge carrying Groton Long Point Road over the Amtrak railroad. “This project will address the existing structural deficiencies and the substandard minimum vertical clearance of the bridge traveling over Amtrak Railroad,” Project Manager […]

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Why Bridgeport’s bridge rebuild is taking decades more than Norwalk’s — ‘It’s quite sickening’

State officials are pledging to take a year to rebuild Norwalk’s Fairfield Avenue highway overpass, demolished after a fiery May 6 crash, at an estimated cost of about $20 million. Meanwhile Bridgeport’s multi-year slog to install a new Congress Street drawbridge, out of service since the late 1990s, has been dealt another setback and is […]

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Greenwich’s Central Middle School rebuild will get about $15 million more than expected from state

Greenwich is slated to receive millions more than expected on the Central Middle School rebuild, thanks to the efforts of the town’s three state House representatives. Upping the reimbursement rate means the town will eventually get about $22 million back from Hartford, or about $14.7 million more than anticipated. Full reimbursement is contingent on project […]

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Opponents of possible expansion of a natural gas pipeline in Coventry set to meet Thursday

The proposed station at Hop River and Bunker Hill roads, to be built this year, is meant to regulate pressure in the section of the Algonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline between Cromwell and Chaplin, according to filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Opponents object to expanded fossil fuel infrastructure and say methane from the fracking […]

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Plans for major biotech park in Connecticut abandoned

Plans to develop a sprawling biotech park in Branford off of Interstate 95, which was announced last April with great fanfare, have been scrapped by the Minnesota-based developer that was proposing the project. A spokeswoman for Ryan Companies told Hearst Connecticut Media on Wednesday that the developer “is no longer pursuing the development.” She declined […]

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Manchester to apply for federal grant to help fund its overhaul of Main Street, which could cost $15M

The Downtown Manchester Improvements Project is billed as a comprehensive redesign of the Main Street corridor that would enhance safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians while smoothing out the flow of traffic. As for how to pay for its new Main Street, estimated in February to cost between $10 million and $15 million, Manchester hopes […]

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Cannabis cultivator gets $16M investment for planned East Hartford grow facility

A planned cannabis cultivation facility in East Hartford has received a big financial boost from a real estate trust that is investing $16 million into the project, the company announced this week. C3 Industries Inc., a Michigan-based multi-state cannabis company building a cultivation facility in East Hartford, recently took on a $16 million investment from […]

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CRDA’s Freimuth: UConn dorm project would be transformative to downtown Hartford

The University of Connecticut’s effort to create a dormitory for its downtown Hartford branch campus would include nearly $28 million in financial support from the Capital Region Development Authority and a private lender. According to CRDA Executive Director Michael Freimuth, the plan would create a student dormitory at 64 Pratt St. The six-floor building is […]

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Manchester to sign contract for mixed-use development at long-vacant Broad Street Parkade

Elected officials have authorized the signing of an agreement to redevelop the so-called “dark side” of the Broad Street Parkade with a mixture of residential and commercial property. The decision is the first major public-facing action taken on the project since July, when the town spent $2 million to settle a lawsuit with a previously […]

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