After a discussion of unpermitted work at a quarry that lacked proper erosion protection along Three Mile River, the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission ordered the property owner to cease all work and to appear at a show cause hearing on March 7. Ron Swaney, who owns 308-1 Mile Creek Road, told the commission Tuesday night that he had been working to improve the the 43.5 acre property by building berms along the river, removing beavers that had built a dam in a culvert, adding boulders along the river’s edge, and rerouting the driveway – all without securing permits. The commission moved unanimously to issue a cease and desist order. Before the March 7 hearing, Swaney will be required to retain a soil scientist to prepare a restoration plan to address the work done in the regulated area without permits, which will also identify the types and possible origins of the fill used on the site.

Old Lyme Quarry Owner Ordered to Cease Unpermitted Work Along Three Mile River 

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 Trumbull Street to Grove Street, with the second phase running from Grove Street to Water Street, Elicker said. Phase 1 is to take place now through the end of the summer. Of the project’s $6.7 million cost, $5.35 million is being paid by a state grant, with the rest coming from the city, officials said. Matt Pugliese, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, said the Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant program, which is funding the state’s share, “is all about transit-oriented development, housing, stitching communities back together.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-haven-lower-state-street-redesign-18692781.php

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 of the Veterans and First Responders Center Building Committee. “The reason that there’s going to be two packages is because contractors could bid on one based on their expertise, or there might be some that could do both.” Plans call for a new 5,500-square-foot building at 1 Veterans Circle at Kaatz Pond, the site of the former, now condemned, veterans building. The new center was originally proposed in 2020 with an initial estimated cost of around $2.5 million, but now has an estimated cost of about $4 million, officials said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/trumbull-veterans-first-responders-center-traffic-18679508.php

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 view of the Connecticut River and an essential component of the Return to the Riverbend master plan of redevelopment, which aims to reconnect Main Street to Harbor Park and the river. The master plan also includes a pedestrian bridge over Route 9.Housing units will comprise some 19 town homes, 258 apartments consisting of studios and one- and two-bedroom units, and about 56 new on-street parking spaces, Daniel Klaynberg, CEO of Wonder Works Construction of New York, said in November.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/middletown-retail-housing-parking-downtown-18667223.php

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 Riley, architect with TRAC Consulting, said last week that the warehouse would be a speculative construction with no occupants planned ahead of time, but could host up to three tenants. PZC Secretary Michael Stebe said last week that the site feels appropriate for the potential development, as it’s down the road from the Winstanley Logistics Property and has easy access to Interstate 291.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/journalinquirer/article/manchester-warehouse-east-hartford-south-windsor-18677191.php

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 detour route for the project depends on the Cedar Heights Road bridge being open. Casolo has previously said that the contractor is A. Vitti Excavators, which has continued work during the winter months. A request for comment from the company wasn’t immediately answered. The bid cost of the project was about $2.8 million, Casolo has said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/stamford-cedar-heights-road-bridge-north-18691450.php

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 New Canaan to Wilton gas main. The DOT issued a permit for Aquarion and Eversource to continue installing pipes in 2024 as the utility companies said they strive “to improve vital water and natural gas infrastructure for the area.” Construction will resume in March with work to extend the 36-inch water main and 16-inch gas main westward along New Canaan Road/Route 106 from Old Boston Road to the New Canaan town line, Aquarion and Eversource said in a joint statement.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/aquarion-eversource-restart-work-wilton-pipe-18663671.php

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 city is borrowing against upcoming bonds- to provide cash flow to continue paying construction costs for the high school, Carbone said. Ground officially was broken on the $179.58 million project in October 2022. Building committee Co-Chairman Edward Arum said the state will reimburse 85% of the construction costs and the city is responsible for 15%. Initial plans for the 310,000-square-foot school, which will house students in grades 7-12, were to complete the high school portion by December 2024 and bring students in by February 2025. Middle school students are expected to be let in by September 2025. Construction, however, is ahead of schedule and plans are to open the school a month early in January 2025, Arum said.

https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2024/02/27/torrington-school-project-ahead-of-schedule-3/

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 current and future airlines and create additional gate space for aircraft, according to an announcement from the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA). The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has set aside $970 million in grants for its Airport Terminal Program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The FAA is providing funding to 104 airports across the country, focusing on terminal reconstruction, development, accessibility and energy efficiency. In addition to the $5.4 million, Bradley received $76 million from the FAA in 2023 for the new checked baggage inspection facility. The total cost of the project is estimated at $151 million. The balance will be paid for by passenger facility charges and airport revenue.

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

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 in Connecticut and is nearing completion of another supermarket in Stamford. The Cheshire Whole Foods store is one of two in the development pipeline, with the other being proposed in Old Saybrook. Andrew Martelli, Cheshire’s director of economic development and grants, said Regency Centers officials have told the town they hope to have the new stores open by late 2025, in advance of the holiday season. Eric Davidson, a Regency Centers spokesman, said he expects both Whole Foods and T.J. Maxx to be open by the spring of 2026, with the remainder of retailers opening during a 12-month period after that.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/anchors-tenants-announced-for-cheshire-project-18688475.php