Leaders behind the $1 billion project to replace a 127-year-old railroad bridge say they’re trying to minimize noise and other impacts as construction on the Walk Bridge continues over the next six years. Norwalk business leaders and Walk Bridge project leaders met over coffee this week to discuss what the next several years will look like as the Walk Bridge Project construction picks up steam. The project broke ground in May to replace the four-track swing bridge over the Norwalk River that serves as a key link in the Northeast Corridor, the busiest rail corridor in the nation, according to the project’s website. While impacts on traffic have been minimal so far, project leaders said there will be lane closures and road closures down the line to improve the infrastructure of the railway. Lane and road closures are not expected until 2024 and 2025, said Jeff Bird from the Walk Bridge Project team.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/walk-bridge-norwalk-ct-local-impact-18419769.php

Massachusetts-based developer Winstanley Enterprises recently paid $4.6 million for an undeveloped 133.6-acre site in Enfield, with plans to build more than 600,000 square feet of industrial space. Winstanley Enterprises on Tuesday announced its purchase of 1697 King St., also known as “Metro Park North,” and plans to eventually move forward on previously obtained land-use approvals for the property. The property offers easy access to Interstate 91 and is minutes away from Bradley International Airport. Winstanley on Tuesday reaffirmed its confidence in the warehouse and distribution sector. The company said it will immediately market its newly acquired Enfield property to prospective tenants and expects to begin construction during the first half of 2024. Winstanley owns and operates more than 12.5 million square feet of commercial real estate.

Winstanley acquires 133.6-acre Enfield site for $4.6M, plans more than 600,000 sq. ft. of logistics space

The 18 dual-port, Level 2 devices will be introduced to several municipal addresses, from City Hall and parking lots to five school district buildings, said Carey Redd II, the city’s director of transportation and parking. Redd, who said he’s been working on the project for months, said at least half of the incoming stations will be active by the end of the year. The cost of the design and installation of the devices will be paid by the Shaws Cove-based contractor Resource Lighting & Energy, which in turn will recoup its costs by way of grant and rebate incentives offered by Eversource, Mayor Michael Passero said. In addition to the municipal sites, the chargers will also be placed outside all school buildings, school district Director of Facilities Miguel Gautier said.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231010/new-london-plans-colossal-expansion-of-electic-vehicle-charging-station-stock/

It will cost “in excess of $100 million” over the next 15 years for the town to address infrastructure issues at three of Wilton’s public schools, according to outgoing First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice. A “Schools Needs Assessment Study and Report,” a consultant’s report that is due to be released next month, will show a projected cost of more than $100 million for infrastructure improvement work almost exclusively at Cider Mill, Middlebrook and Wilton High Schools, Vanderslice told the Board of Selectmen as she shared details of initial assessment. Vanderslice reminded the Board of Selectmen that after the renovation and reconfiguration of Miller-Driscoll School, and other big-cost items such as the soon-to-begin construction on the new police station, the next phase of the town’s infrastructure improvement centered on work at the remaining three schools.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/wilton-schools-100-million-repairs-vanderslice-18408360.php

Construction workers wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) daily, but protecting mental health alongside physical health is equally important. Sadly, construction workers have among the highest suicide rates by population. In the U.S. alone, men working in construction are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. While the construction industry is one of enormous physical labor, including significant physical stress, mental health is being elevated on the job site – modern safety programs are approaching safety as a holistic issue, mind, body and spirit. Increasing communication and visibility around mental health issues can go a long way to reducing stigma and creating an inclusive environment. For leaders looking to address the issue of mental well-being, talking about it openly goes a long way. Including recurring mental health training and policies in safety meetings are one way to ensure mental health is at the forefront of the safety conversation.

https://www.constructiondive.com/spons/breaking-ground-on-mental-health-one-conversation-at-a-time/695230/

Electric Boat and the Metal Trades Council, a labor union representing more than 3,400 shipyard workers, announced that union members have ratified a new five-year contract that grants them significant increases in compensation and benefits, including a 21.4% hike in wages over the life of the deal. MTC members work in the skilled trades, and include welders, electricians, machinists, pipefitters, laborers, painters and transportation services and administrative support employees. “This is the largest wage package in more than 30 years and demonstrates the value we place on the skills and experience necessary to build the world’s finest submarines,” Kevin Graney, Electric Boat’s president, said in a statement released by EB, a division of General Dynamics. “This new agreement will help attract and retain new employees while providing for the current membership,” Peter Baker, president of the Metal Trades Council, said.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20231009/ebs-shipyard-workers-ratify-new-pact-providing-21-4-hike-in-wages-over-five-years/

Voters widely rejected a $47 million plan to renovate the outdated Sherman School, leaving the town with few options to save the pre-K-8 building. The town must now consider alternatives that include building a new school, eliminating its middle school program or closing its only public school, the Board of Education chairman said. Sherman would be the only town in the Connecticut without a school, state education department officials have said. At Saturday’s referendum, residents voted 914-509 against repairing the school. The town, which has about 3,500 residents, would have sought a state grant to cover $11 million of the cost. If the school were to close entirely, pre-K-8 students would be sent to neighboring school districts, just like Sherman’s high-school age students. That idea faced backlash from parents when it was discussed last year.

https://www.newstimes.com/newmilford/article/sherman-ct-school-renovation-plan-rejected-18414263.php?src=nthpdesecp

The city is receiving $2 million in state funds toward reconstruction of Canal and Wooster streets, including the reopening of the long-closed Wooster Street railroad crossing. The funds are part of more than $1.1 billion in state funding — approved Friday by the State Bond Commission — that will be used to perform various improvements to Connecticut’s transportation system. The funds will go toward road and lighting improvements along Canal Street as well and reopening of the Wooster Street railroad crossing. Construction is moving to this area of Canal Street near the Wooster Street connection. This latest state grant comes only a week after the city received $500,000 to help cover costs of turning the lower grass field at Shelton High into an artificial turf field.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ct-money-shelton-canal-wooster-street-rr-crossing-18411435.php

A $2 million state grant for the engineering and construction of a Middletown connection to the Air Line State Park Trail in Portland has the potential to unlock another $8 million in federal dollars for the overall project. The Air Line, a former railway that takes its name from the imaginary line drawn from New York to Boston, according to the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, is a stone dust trail used by walkers and cyclists. Plans are for it to eventually connect the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail with Middletown at the center, according to a news release from state Sen. Matt Lesser. Once finished, the 23-mile ALT-FCT Connector would complete the 111-mile Central Connecticut Loop Trail. “This construction money makes this project so much more feasible and have much better legs than it did before,” the executive director added. “This is a great position to be in.”

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/air-line-trail-grant-middletown-portland-18414919.php

Built in the 1940s, the northbound span of the Goldstar Memorial Bridge continues carrying five lanes of I-95 traffic safely across the Thames River from New London to Groton in Connecticut. The job will have three phases, totaling approximately $407 million, with the entire project due to be completed in 2029. The phases include rehabbing the truss spans, work on the approach span, fixing bearings, concrete repairs, improved drainage systems, and finally a full deck replacement. Scott Thompson is the project manager of Aetna Bridge, who was awarded the contract for Phase 1, and supervises a team of approximately 70 workers for the current phase of the project. The job is not for the faint of heart as the workers do their jobs on a bridge that soars 110-150 ft. above the water at the midpoint of the bridge. The upper platform is 140 ft. above the water. Thompson estimates that the bridge was last given a full paint job 50 years ago. He understands that the coating system being applied will provide rust protection for an additional 50 years.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/aetna-bridge-leads-goldstar-bridge-rehabilitation-job/62701