Originally estimated as a six- to eight-week project, the blasting effort represents one of the first critical phases of the four-year, $148 million reconstruction of the highway. Resident Engineer Robert Obey of Glastonbury-based GM2 said crews could be looking at an extra month of blasting because an especially challenging section of ledge has resulted in longer closures and fewer detonations than project officials anticipated. Each blasting period requires the complete closure of the highway between exits 74 and 75. The goal is to get it open again within 20 minutes, though project data shows there were more closures lasting over 20 minutes than under. State Department of Transportation project engineer Andrew Millovitsch said last Thursday’s delays were exacerbated when the reopened highway had to be closed again after inspection of the blast site revealed rock remnants on top that could potentially cause problems if dislodged.
https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230824/fire-in-the-hole/