With an infusion of $10.5 million in federal dollars, the city and a private company on the harbor are aiming to make Bridgeport a hub for future offshore wind energy projects. But the direct beneficiary of that federal aid is not Avangrid’s previously ballyhooed Park City Wind project, but instead local shipyard operator Bridgeport Boatworks. But as reported in July, a lease announcement between Park City Wind and the ferry was premature, and, because of re-zoning under Mayor Joe Ganim’s administration, the proposed staging area cannot proceed, though the operations/maintenance building could. Then last week it was announced during Avangrid’s third quarter earnings call with Wall Street analysts that Park City Wind’s completion date had been pushed back from 2026 to 2027.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Millions-federal-aid-offshore-wind-Bridgeport-17558811.php

The Board of Finance is grappling with how the city will fund its share of a $1.5 billion school facilities plan. Full implementation of the plan, including addressing all the deferred maintenance, would cost the city about $952 million over two decades. The new plan projects that the state will contribute a total of $766 million. The plan calls for about $39 million in funding from the city for the coming fiscal year. The number rises as high as $51 million in future years. Freedman said the city will have to make up the difference through taxes. This year, the Board of Finance and Board of Representatives agreed to raise $20 million for school construction projects through an increased tax rate. Freedman said he will recommend that Mayor Caroline Simmons include another $20 million in her budget proposal for fiscal 2023-24.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/How-will-Stamford-fund-its-half-of-a-1-5B-plan-17559956.php?src=sthpdesecp

Some skeptics in Norwalk opposed the plan because of the cost, others because they would lose their land by eminent domain. And everyone’s concerned about the years of construction and mess… including demolition of the Maritime Aquarium IMAX Theater. The CDOT had considered all sorts of new bridge designs… truss, lift, bascule, counter-weight and even an elevated fly-over. But one design seemed conspicuously missing that might have be cheaper… a non-movable, “fixed” bridge. The Walk Bridge project is worth watching because it may act as a template for other “billion dollar bridge” replacements farther east in the years to come.

Talking Transportation: Why Not a Cheaper, Simpler Replacement for the $1B Walk Bridge?

The death toll in construction hasn’t changed in the past decade, raising important questions about the effectiveness of OSHA and what it would take to save more lives, according to an analysis by Construction Dive. Workers continue to die at the same rate — 10 out of every 100,000 workers didn’t come home between 2011 and 2020 — highlighting weak enforcement, meager inspections and fines, and the opioid epidemic. With last year’s staff levels, for example, it would have taken inspectors 236 years to visit every workplace in the U.S., according to union group AFL-CIO’s Death on the Job report. Fines would need to rise above the cost of doing business and find their targets, especially among small contractors, which account for about 90% of the industry and often fly under the radar.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/osha-enforcement-violations-death-on-the-jobsite-construction/634308/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202022-11-03%20Construction%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:45747%5D&utm_term=Construction%20Dive

The 6,000-plus seat Dunkin’ Donuts Park was completed in 2017, following a construction project that was delayed by a year and which saw costs jump from an initial $56 million budget to $71 million. The city blamed Middletown-based Centerplan Cos., terminating it as both the developer of the partially complete stadium and revoking the right of an affiliated limited liability company to build apartments on nearby city-controlled lots. RMS CEO Randy Salvatore had planned to roll right into construction of a second development – a 522-spot parking facility attached to a structure with 528 apartments — on a site just southwest of the stadium, across Main Street. Salvatore said he hopes to proceed with construction early next year, but it would be impossible to be certain of the timing of a court resolution.

Facing court roadblock, North Crossing developer seeks Hartford approvals for 528-unit apartment building

Rising construction costs and quickly climbing interest rates have pushed the Farmington High School construction project about $18 million over budget, and town voters will get to decide next month how to deal with that. School and municipal officials are asking voters next month to authorize spending another $9.7 million on the project, but are assuring that it won’t come from local taxpayers. A panel overseeing the project blamed higher interest rates, supply chain disruptions and fast-rising construction costs for the overruns. The full budget for all construction labor and materials had been set at $115.6 million, but the lowest bids in October totaled $121.5 million, according to Lorel Purcell of O&G Industries, the town’s construction manager.

https://www.theday.com/state/20221103/farmington-high-school-project-millions-of-dollars-over-budget/

KG+D Architects Vice President Erik Kaeyer unveiled concept designs of the proposed Hindley, Royle and Holmes elementary school additions at a Board of Education meeting last month. The designs were unanimously approved by the Board of Education. The estimated construction budget for all three schools is a little over $68 million, with base bids coming just under budget, officials said. All three buildings were last updated in the late 1990s. All three designs have been presented to the Architectural Review Board and are expected to enter Planning and Zoning hearings toward the end of November.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Darien-schools-68M-Hindley-Royle-Holmes-upgrade-17520217.php

Bradley International Airport competed its $210 million ground transportation center in July and already has its sights set on other projects. In July, the airport received a $20 million federal grant that will go toward a larger $185 million redevelopment of Bradley’s facilities. That project is expected to take about two years, officials said in July. The Charter Oak Bridge Project combines two initiatives that officials say will help reduce congestion and improve safety on Interstate-91 in Hartford County. The project – which cost about $240 million – has mostly wrapped up. The work included relocating an exit ramp on I-91 to provide an extra lane and ease safety concerns from merging traffic. The largest resort casino in the Northeast is adding more space for its 30th anniversary. In November, Foxwoods Casino will open its 80,000-square-foot Rainmaker Expo Center for trade shows and sporting events. The casino will also begin construction for a $85-million project that will add 50,000 feet of gaming space and a 13,000-square-foot restaurant to the Ledyard resort.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Major-development-construction-projects-ct-17519809.php

The city has chosen Pennrose, a developer active in 20 states, over the Glendower Group, development arm of the Housing Authority of New Haven, as preferred developer for mixed-use development at the former Horace H. Strong School site in the heart of Fair Haven, officials announced Wednesday. The Pennrose plan, presented at a community meeting Sept. 14, would preserve the original school building as affordable housing and live/work artists space and create an LGBTQ-friendly, 100 percent affordable rental development. The estimated total cost of the project is $25 million, with a projected completion date of 2025, the release said. The city anticipates a three-year planning and construction timeline, officials said. A definitive development agreement will be negotiated and submitted to the Board of Alders for review and approval. Quarterly status updates will be provided to the community via the meetings of the Fair Haven Community Management Team.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/New-Haven-chooses-Pennrose-for-Strong-School-17552973.php

If Cromwell grants a tax abatement and state traffic officials give their approval, a developer says the deteriorating and long-vacant Red Lion hotel in Cromwell could soon be razed to make way for 254 apartments, 20 townhouse condos and a mid-sized restaurant and retail plaza. Developer Martin Kenny said he will set aside 5% of the apartments as affordable housing, but cautioned that the entire project is contingent on getting property tax breaks from the town. Kenny’s plan would start with demolition of the entire building along with part of its parking garage. Because of environmental contamination, that job alone is estimated to cost $2.4 million, Alter said. Construction is estimated to take two years, but won’t start until after the demolition and cleanup are completed. The company and its consultants emphasized that it’s too soon to discuss a specific schedule or completion target.

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-connecticut-berlin-crowne-plaza-20221102-ey37dqmeyndttkymcr6xjen6gm-story.html