The state Department of Transportation, which already is making improvements to the northbound side of Interstate 95 in Groton, Stonington and North Stonington, plans to begin work this spring to improve the highway’s southbound lanes in that area. Josh Morgan, DOT spokesman, said the improvements include paving the road, upgrading lighting and guardrails, and adding new bridge railings to meet federal safety standards. He said the highway will be resurfaced and paved, and the on and off ramps will get a fresh overlay of asphalt to ensure a smooth transition as drivers access and exit the highway. The northbound project, which began in the spring, costs about $38.2 million, according to Morgan. The DOT is awaiting bids and then will award a contract for the southbound project, so the exact price tag of that work is not yet known, said Morgan. He said $54 million in federal funds and $3 million in state funds, approved by the State Bond Commission, are available.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231109/i-95-improvements-in-groton-stonington-north-stonington-intended-to-make-roads-safer-ease-congest/

The development team is composed of industry veterans including Framingham, Massachusetts-based Grossman Development Group, Charter Realty Principal Daniel M. Zelson and Jason C. Hess, a veteran real estate attorney with New York-based mixed-use developer Leyland Alliance. Collectively, the partners have helped complete millions of square feet of ground-up development and redevelopment worth more than $1.5 billion, according to the team’s RFP response. East Hartford paid $4.5 million to claim the 22-acre Silver Lane retail plaza this spring by eminent domain. Officials said three deteriorating buildings on the property were going increasingly vacant. The town claimed the property with plans to demolish the vacant buildings and find a developer to put it back into productive use. Responses to the town’s request-for-proposals were due last week. The Grossman/Zelson/Hess team was the only respondent.

Developers pitch mixed-use redevelopment of East Hartford’s Silver Lane Plaza

Although the official proposal has not yet been submitted to the Connecticut Siting Council, Verogy, a solar developer, has informed the Town of Windsor of its intention to build a large solar panel “farm” on existing farmland at 445 River St. The project, called Windsor Solar One, would generate 5,513 mega-watt hours per year, enough to power 760 average homes. If approved, the project could be completed as early as fall of 2024. The benefits to the town, as listed on the site, include increased new annual tax revenue with no burden on town services, infrastructure upgrades that will improve the reliability of the town’s electrical grid, reduction in energy demand during peak usage which will decrease energy costs statewide, and stronger renewable energy resources that produce electricity locally with no pollution.

A new solar farm is being planned with Windsor in mind. Here’s where it might go.

On Tuesday, Associated Builders and Contractors and its Southeast Texas chapter filed suit against the federal government in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and Associated General Contractors of America filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The rule change aimed to raise the hourly earnings of workers for general contractors and subcontractors on federally funded projects, such as those under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS Act. ABC named the Department of Labor, acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looman as plaintiffs in the filing. AGC named just Su and the DOL. ABC said it submitted nearly 70 pages of comments on the matter to dissuade the federal government from adopting the change. Now, it’s taking the matter to court. AGC’s challenge indicated the federal government had overreached by applying Davis-Bacon rules to other industries connected to construction, such as manufacturing and delivery truck drivers.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/trades-groups-sue-dol-davis-bacon/699134/

More than two-thirds of contractors now offer anti-harassment training, a finding that suggests a majority of construction companies recognize the importance of creating an inclusive worksite, according to a recent report from Dodge Construction Network. Contractors that hire union workers are more than twice as likely (85%) to have anti-harassment training than those that hire non-union workers exclusively (42%). Produced in partnership with CPWR, The Center for Construction Research and Training, the report found that despite the industry’s racist, sexist reputation, contractors are emphasizing tolerance and acceptance on jobsites via anti-harassment training. It is far more common for contractors that exclusively hire non-union craftworkers to only offer the training when needed, rather than with a regular cadence.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/large-contractors-union-shops-better-at-anti-harassment-training/699208/

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has entered into an agreement with a Middlefield-based construction contractor requiring the company to restore wetlands that it filled, and to pay a civil penalty for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The EPA said the settlement resolves allegations that Silenex Associates LLC violated federal law when it discharged, dredged and/or filled about 12 acres of freshwater wetlands and other waters at 186 Cherry Lane in Durham. As part of the settlement, Silenex will restore and/or mitigate 8.5 acres of freshwater wetlands and about 3,000 linear feet of the impacted tributaries to their natural condition. In addition, Silenex will pay a civil penalty of $24,500. Silenex, an affiliate of Xenelis Construction Co. Inc., did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CT contractor ordered to restore wetlands, pay fine for Clean Water Act violations

Tuesday’s 165-vote defeat of a proposed $44.75 million police station left city leaders to dissect the public opposition and to plan another path to replace the cramped, obsolete 44-year-old police headquarters. Was the price tag too high on the heels of last year’s approval of a massive $385 million school reconstruction project? Were voters objecting to the top proposed location behind the Rose City Senior Center? Did the city rush to place the item on the Nov. 7 referendum ballot with little chance for public comment and ideas? In October, the City Council agreed to buy the vacant Ox Hill Road property ― before the referendum ― for $385,000 using federal American Rescue Plan Act grant money. Voters a year ago overwhelmingly approved the $385 million school construction project to replace the current seven aging elementary schools with four new school buildings. The city will go out to bid soon for the first two school buildings, and taxpayers will begin to pay the debt service for the bonds in their property taxes.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231108/norwich-officials-to-discuss-next-steps-after-voters-reject-new-police-station/

City officials cut the ribbon Monday on Phase III of the Harbor Brook Trail, which extends the city’s linear trail from Coe to Columbus avenues. The city’s completed linear trail system currently runs from Cheshire to Red Bridge in South Meriden, to Oregon Road near Hanover Pond behind two city schools, and onto Coe Avenue. The project has cost $12.5 million to date. The state DEEP gave the city $7 million for the 1.1 miles in Phase III, said City Engineer Brian Ennis. The city created two parking lots for trail usage. One lot is on the corner of Cook Avenue and Summer Street and the other at 59 Columbus Avenue. Ennis said there may be times when work requires a short closure. But for the most part, the trail is open.

https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/Meriden-opens-phase-III-of-linear-trail-into-downtown.html

The town is celebrating the completion of the $1.7 million first phase of its streetscape project — a project that has been over a decade in the making. In recognition of the project, which was made possible through a $500,000 award from the Connecticut Department of Housing’s Main Street Investment Fund Grant, the town will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday on on the front lawn of Morrison Gallery, 60 N. Main St. The ceremony, which will take place along the project’s route, is open to the entire community. The project involves replacing approximately 11,000 linear feet of sidewalks. Phase one was expected to cost about $1.7 million. Phase two will include Route 7 south of the Soldiers’ Monument, to Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, and 341 East on the south side of the street, which is the firehouse side. On the north side, it will go to Maple Street Extension and end at Stuart Farm Apartments, and include the south side of Lane Street. Phase two is expected to begin next fall, Speck said Monday.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/newmilford/article/kent-hold-ceremony-phase-1-streetscape-project-18472780.php#taboola-2

Capacity on the Hartford Line rail will increase from 35 to 44 trains per day thanks to $105 million in new federal funding, according to the state Department of Transportation. The funding will also allow for improved signals and grade crossings in three segments totaling 6.2 miles of the Hartford Line. Work will focus in the Hartford-West Hartford, Windsor-Windsor Locks and Enfield portions of the tracks. There are currently no train stations in West Hartford and Enfield, but the railroad does run through these towns and construction on an Enfield station is expected to start in 2025. Construction is expected to stretch from August 2024 to August 2027 with the project being fully completed in November 2027, according to documents from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Connecticut DOT will provide $41.9 million in matching funds to go toward the project.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/capitalregion/article/hartford-line-rail-train-expansion-ct-18471434.php