While a key legislative panel unanimously endorsed the nomination of Garrett Eucalitto of New Haven, the state’s construction industry also threw its support behind the transportation policy veteran, arguing he is best suited to accelerate long-overdue capital projects. The new commissioner added that the private industries that support Connecticut’s transportation capital program also need more skilled tradespeople. Labor leaders also say the department needs more engineers and other professionals if it hopes to rebuild Connecticut’s aging infrastructure at a faster pace. Adding staff, getting more projects underway and accelerating the capital program will become even more crucial in the near future if Connecticut hopes to maximize increased transportation aid from Washington.

CT construction industries, legislators back nominee for DOT chief

Avon-based Lodestar Energy LLC is seeking approval from the Connecticut Siting Council to build the energy-generating facility on three parcels on the east side of Raddia Road. Although the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission does not have jurisdiction, it was notified of the project during a meeting earlier this month. The project includes an electrical service connection from an existing Eversource distribution system along the west side of Raffia Road, and six new utility poles. Construction is expected to take six to nine months once permits are obtained, and the developer hopes to begin construction this spring. The council has until March 7 to take action, and a deadline of July 5 to make a decision.

Renewable energy company proposes 13.6-acre solar farm in Enfield

Two structurally deficient bridges that have either limited or prohibited through traffic on local roads over the past several years are slated to be replaced this year. First Selectman David Lahm said the town last week awarded the $889,202 contract for replacement of the 14.5-foot-long Birch Road bridge over Falls Brook to Suchocki & Son, Inc. of Old Lyme. Lahm said he expects construction on the bridge to begin sometime around May, targeting late summer for completion. Licensing documents from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Projection said the project will replace the bridge with a 21-foot-long, precast concrete box culvert.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230117/construction-bids-bring-lyme-bridge-projects-closer-to-completion/#

During an upbeat State of the City address Tuesday, Mayor Peter Nystrom touted several major economic development projects completed or underway and thanked voters for their strong support of the $385 million school construction project that is designed to overhaul the public school system. But Nystrom did give the council and the audience Tuesday an update on the state Department of Transportation’s controversial plan to reconstruct West Main Street-Route 82. The DOT initially had planned to install six roundabouts and a median divider on a 1.3-mile stretch of the commercial strip, but that plan was paused in fall to be “reassessed,” DOT officials said. Nystrom said Tuesday he, City Manager John Salomone, Public Works Director Patrick McLaughlin and City Engineer Brian Long met recently via Zoom with state officials to discuss the project. Nystrom said a revised design is expected in April.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230117/norwich-mayor-nystrom-highlights-development-successes-new-school-project/#

Stemming from the controversies that surround the Connecticut Port Authority and its oversight of the State Pier redevelopment in New London, Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, and Rep. Christine Conley, D-Groton, have introduced two bills that would place limits on the authority and other quasi-public agencies. One bill would prohibit construction managers hired by a quasi-public agency to oversee a project from applying for any work associated with that project, including but not limited to construction, engineering and operations. This practice is already not allowed in state agencies. The Connecticut Mirror reported in November that the port authority allowed Kiewit Corporation, construction manager for the State Pier redevelopment for offshore wind, to submit bids and recommend itself for subcontracts worth roughly $87.8 million.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20230117/spurred-by-port-authority-controversies-osten-and-conley-introduce-two-bills-impacting-quasi-public/#

After getting voters’ approval last month to fund the $12.3 million Bergstrom Well and Water Treatment Plant project, Bethel secured $2.24 million in federal funding thanks in part to the efforts of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who stopped by Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center Tuesday morning to discuss the project. The recently awarded federal funding for the project includes a $1.6 million grant toward the facility’s construction and a $640,000 grant to help pay for the plant’s supervisory control and data acquisition system. Construction of the water treatment facility is budgeted at nearly $10 million. The remainder of the $12.3 million approved for the project includes roughly $1.8 million for professional services, $499,000 for contingency and $16,000 for legal fees, according to the town.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Bethel-Bergstrom-water-treatment-plant-grant-17722453.php

East Hartford’s Town Council, meeting Tuesday, agreed to delay collection of property taxes for a massive warehouse development moving forward on Rentschler Field this year. “Banks have all but stopped lending on new construction projects and any debt that is available has more than doubled in rate over the course of 2022, which has severely increased our project costs,” National Development Managing Partner Ed Marsteiner wrote to East Hartford’s mayor in a letter dated Dec. 20. “This change in financing alone has put immense pressure on the viability of the project.” For the past year, National Development has laid the groundwork for a project erecting two massive warehouse/logistics centers on 300 acres at Rentschler Field, along with two smaller research and development buildings. East Hartford officials say the company plans to build the two logistics buildings – one of 1.2 million square feet and the other of 1.3 million square feet – beginning this year and completing in 2024.

With development costs soaring, East Hartford grants tax deferral for massive industrial development at Rentschler Field

A $10 million budget overage has prompted the Board of Education to revise its original plans for the construction of a new elementary school, including shrinking classroom sizes, and may bring a request for additional funds within the next few months. In a special meeting on December 13, Adam Levitus of Colliers International, the owner’s representative for the project, told the board that the most recent estimates for the project came in at $56.5 million — nearly $10 million above the $46.6 million approved for the cost. He said said the cost hike was due to rapid increases in construction prices and new enrollment projections that required the addition of four more classrooms to the building footprint. Minutes from the Dec. 13 school building committee meeting discuss the possibility of requesting an additional $5 million from the Board of Selectmen to be added to the project budget. But Peggy Lyons, first selectwoman of Madison, told CT Examiner in an email on Friday that the building committee was still working through the budget numbers, and that the current design numbers were based on estimates. She said she expected the Board of Selectmen to get a full update on the budget in February or March, when they would discuss any remaining concerns. 

$10 Million Over Budget, Madison Board of Ed Proposes Revised School Plans

In addition to education, Blake said the city is also hoping for state funds to complete a series of municipal projects. Blake cited dredging Milford Harbor as a potential use of state grant money. The city already has about $5 million set aside for that project, but the total cost of harbor dredging is estimated at about $7 million. “So we need a couple more million dollars for that project,” Blake said. Finally, Blake said, transportation issues in Milford remain a priority. Smith said he would use his new position as a member of the transportation committee to request state assistance for urgent drainage projects throughout the city and request grants for new road and sidewalk repair construction.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Milford-CT-grants-top-priority-17699547.php

Monroe Recycling and Aggregates LLC is requesting a special permit to develop land at 467 and 485 Pepper St., where they plan to build the 9,000-square-foot facility. The site would include outdoor storage areas for rocks and construction material. The project has raised concerns among a few Planning and Zoning Commission members worried about dust impacting nearby wetlands and affecting people using the Housatonic biking trail. The zoning commission will hold a public hearing on the plan at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Town Hall. It would also be used by the owner, Joe Grasso Jr., head of The Grasso Companies construction company, which serves Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties, along with New York’s Westchester County. The Monroe-based company has worked on a reconstruction of about 4,500 linear feet on Pepper Street for safety improvements.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/rock-crushing-plant-monroe-zoning-17713537.php