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/

Construction has begun on a $50 million state project to reconfigure a stop sign on the Route 17 on-ramp that leads to Route 9 northbound in Middletown to remedy a section of highway deemed one of the most dangerous in Connecticut. Aimed at reducing crashes and improving traffic movement, the Department of Transportation plan includes removing stop sign and building a full-length acceleration lane to allow vehicles to merge with other motorists without first being required to come to a complete stop, according to the agency. The contract was awarded to the Middlesex Corp., and the project is expected to be completed in fall 2026. The project will coincide with redevelopment of the city’s portion of the Connecticut Riverfront, which recently received a $12 million infusion from the state.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ct-dot-begins-work-remove-stop-sign-route-9-17891522.php

The Town Council on Monday voted 5-1 to not enter into a 10-year agreement with the project’s land owner Ox Owner, LLC, a subsidiary of the Massachusetts-based developer Dakota Partners. Dakota Senior Development Director Eric Kuczarski said the failure to reach an agreement will not kill the project and said construction at the 42 Pink Row property, home to the historic Faria Beede Mill, is set to resume in June. He said the now $43 million project is 45% complete and on track to be finished by June 2024. There was one caveat to the timeline. If for some reason the owner would not be able to complete the project by the proposed start date, it would be able to push the start date back until it was complete and could generate revenue from its tenants. Kuczarski said the timeline would motivate Dakota to complete the project as quickly as possible in order to take full advantage of the deal.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230411/montville-housing-project-on-schedule-despite-rejection-of-tax-break/

After environmental testing, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to recommend moving forward with a project to add the town’s third turf field at Allen’s Meadow. As a result of the vote, the project will be submitted as a referendum for bonding at the annual Town Meeting on May 2. The Board of Selectmen’s vote came after it had learned that results of recent water tests showed no toxins were present that would be attributable to the town’s two existing artificial turf fields. The plans for the third turf field are posted on the town website, explaining the need for the project, the status of the lease and the environmental reviews along with costs. The turf field’s design and construction would cost about $1.82 million, according to the town website. With inflation and a 10 percent cost contingency, the total cost would come to $2.11 million.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/wilton-turf-field-vote-allen-s-meadow-17891225.php