Town officials are preparing to ask residents permission to bond up to $4 million to fund two major upgrades to an aging wastewater treatment plant. The bonding package, if approved at a May 9 referendum, would pay for the replacement of a main generator and two secondary clarifier tanks at the Water Pollution Control Authority’s North Treatment Plant off Black Hill Road. In August, selectman approved earmarking $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act for generator and secondary tank replacement at the North Plant. First Selectman Kevin Cunningham said that money has since been re-allocated for other sewer project-related work, including a roof replacement at the main facility and upgrade work at pump station sites. Cunningham said he’s seeking out grant opportunities, including through the state Clean Water Fund, that will likely reduce the final project cost. The work will take approximately two years to complete and no interruption of service is expected.

https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/news/local/2023/04/17/plainfield-4m-sewer-bond-package-aims-to-upgrade-aging-plant-facility-generator-clarifier/70098258007/

Lamont toured the multiple housing development sites, totaling about 416 units, across the city to see for himself the housing boom taking place here. “More housing is being developed than ever before,” Lamont said. “People want to move to New London.” The tour started at the Garfield Mill Complex at 90 Garfield Ave. which will be redeveloped by Litchfield-based Park Lane Group into 86 units. Passero said 20% of the units will be affordable and the rest will be workforce housing. Lamont was then lead to 123 Bank St. to one of three neighboring buildings on Bank Street that will make up The Riverbank, a development of 32 luxury loft apartments and commercial space. Lamont and his entourage then headed to The Beam, a 203-unit apartment complex, at 221 Howard St. The building, nearing completion and already housing some tenants, was developed by RJ Development.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230414/governor-ned-lamont-tours-housing-boom-in-new-london/

For perhaps the most eye-grabbing demolition project underway in Connecticut, no one has a better seat to the show than Linda Vinci, whose Braach’s Flowers is across the street from the old IMAX Theater at the Maritime Aquarium. Work crews are dismantling the structure to make way for construction of a new train bridge spanning the Norwalk River. The hope is that the $1 billion-plus Walk Bridge Program will cause minimal disruption to businesses and residents in South Norwalk’s historic core, as well as the fish, seals and other denizens at the Maritime Aquarium next door. “The first phase of construction for the Walk Bridge project is expected to begin next month with staging and foundation work ahead of the major track, tower and superstructure work,” said DOT spokesperson Josh Morgan, in an email response to a Hearst Connecticut Media query on the timeline.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ct-walk-bridge-norwalk-sono-metro-north-amtrak-17897241.php

Hetzler and Building Committee Co-Chairman Edward Arum said the project is running on schedule and within budget, and construction crews from O&G Industries and architects from Slam Collaborative are working well together. “The building project is on schedule,” she said. “The building is going up so fast. The weather has been perfect for the project.” Ground officially was broken in October 2022, though some work was done at the site previously, Arum said. The state will reimburse 85% of all eligible costs, with the city responsible for the remaining 15%. The goal is to complete the high school portion by December 2024 and bring students in by February 2025, Arum said. Middle school students are expected to enter by September 2025.

https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2023/04/13/torrington-school-going-up-so-fast/

The overall number of construction cranes at work in major North American cities grew 7% in the first three months of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022, although cranes on commercial projects were down 20% for that same period, according to the most recent crane index from Rider Levett Bucknall. Despite labor concerns and economic uncertainties, “we are continuing to see new projects break ground within our 14 key markets,” the report reads. “We anticipate the number of cranes to remain high into 2023. Despite uncertain market conditions, construction projects will continue to break ground, albeit at a cost.”

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/crane-count-rises-commercial-work-dips-Q1-2023-construction/647563/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202023-04-13%20Construction%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:49615%5D&utm_term=Construction%20Dive

Boosting the speed of train travel along the Northeast corridor is a top priority, according to Sen. Chris Murphy, that will require new track and “dislocation” for communities along the rail corridor. Murphy made the comments at a luncheon sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday. Murphy said that of the $66 billion in the infrastructure bill designated for rail, he and his colleagues were able to “earmark $30 to $35 billion of that – half of that money – just for the stretch of rail from Boston to Washington, D.C.” Since joining Sen. Richard Blumenthal in 2016 to oppose a proposed high-speed rail bypass through southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island, Murphy has spoken in public on a number of occasions in favor of investments in high-speed rail and the need for improvements outside of the existing Northeast Corridor right of way.

New Track, ‘Dislocation’ Necessary for High Speed Rail, Murphy Tells Chamber Luncheon

Aquarion Water Company expects to start repair work on the water line under Greenwich Avenue soon with the work likely causing intermittent road closures in coming months. Aquarion, through its partner Snyder Civil Engineering, expects to start work this spring and take a full year to complete. The companies have not specified when work will start. The repairs will take place between Elm Street and Grigg Street on the Avenue, running past the Havemeyer Building and many stores and restaurants. Work crews will work on different parts of the water main line during the course of the year, so the entire section will not be closed all at once.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/major-water-main-repair-work-start-greenwich-17895450.php

The development had been the focus of more than two years of heated public hearings, an initial Planning and Zoning Commission denial and a court appeal before a deal was finalized in 2020 to allow 16 single-family homes behind the Huntington Congregational Church adjacent to Ripton Road. Huntington Village, LLC, which has no affiliation to the original developer, John Guedes, has filed plans for eight single-family homes on the 6.147-acre parcel, which is presently undeveloped. The new developer is seeking an amendment to the already approved Planned Development District.

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/huntington-village-shelton-john-guedes-17894878.php?src=rdctpdensecp

Owner and applicant Gary Merrigan of Windsor Locks-based M&L Development Corp. has gained approval to build 24 residential units at 64 South Elm St., for seniors age 55 and older called The Settlement at 64. The 3.1-acre development site is primarily vacant land except for one single-family residence. “It’s a great location,” Merrigan said, “you can walk to the high school and church,” or the public safety center and gathering area. Windsor Locks First Selectman Paul Harrington said Windsor Locks has a severe housing shortage, including senior housing units, and that this is a much-needed project for the town’s aging population.

Senior housing project pitched for Windsor Locks

NPU will receive the maximum award of $10 million to replace an estimated 4.7 miles of cast iron, wrought iron or bare steel pipes beneath city streets. Work will begin as soon as the grant money is released to NPU. Courtney praised NPU for recognizing that the $350 billion federal infrastructure law covered more than roads, bridges, rail and airports, although the grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation. With no grant limit announced, NPU applied for the more than $20 million that would be needed to replace all nine miles of aged gas lines. The $10 million will cover half the total, with that work to be done in two to three years. With no grant limit announced, NPU applied for the more than $20 million that would be needed to replace all nine miles of aged gas lines. The $10 million will cover half the total, with that work to be done in two to three years.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230412/norwich-public-utilities-to-receive-10m-federal-gas-line-replacement-grant/