The new owner of Norwalk Hospital will provide expertise and much-needed capital to begin working on a delayed $220 million patient bed tower — an expansion and renovation plan that represents a “transformation” for the medical center. “Northwell … is leading-edge with their construction. We will definitely benefit from their expertise,” Robertson told CT Insider recently as several hundred people gathered outside Danbury Hospital to cut the ceremonial ribbon on the $22 billion Northwell-Nuvance partnership. Robertson was referring to Northwell’s promise to invest $1 billion in Nuvance hospitals – in Norwalk, Danbury, New Milford and Sharon in Connecticut, and three more in New York’s Hudson River Valley. The seven hospitals and scores of outpatient sites in western Connecticut formerly run by Nuvance are now part of the largest health care system in New York. Blueprints call for a 190,000-square-foot tower and 50,000 square feet of renovated space at the bend of Stevens Street. The tower would replace older sections of the hospital that date to 1918.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/norwalk-hospital-northwell-nuvance-tower-expansion-20331495.php

As work continues on the $10 million reconstruction of West Hartford Center, the town has released a draft of the area’s master plan, giving a broader glimpse of the popular dining and shopping destination’s future. Right now, construction crews are tearing up and replacing sidewalk on LaSalle Road, part of the first phase of the reconstruction plan that will widen sidewalks, replace aging trees and make the roadway safer for pedestrians. Next year, that same construction plan will move to Farmington Avenue. The plan also runs through basic improvements like more seating, tree enhancements, implementing public art and how restaurants might set up outdoor dining on sidewalks. Stantec is also recommending that the town experiment with changes to parking fees, including raising prices — even as low as 25 cents more per hour. But they also recommend introducing variable pricing, meaning the more in-demand spaces — like street parking — would cost more than less desirable parking. The Town Council will finalize the master plan later this year.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/westhartford/article/west-hartford-ct-town-center-master-plan-lasalle-20339178.php

A new study commissioned by the Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport Authority projects that the planned expansion of the airport will generate some 2,400 jobs by the end of the decade. The report, prepared by UConn’s Center for Economic Analysis, also forecasts $100 million in construction impacts by 2030, and $444 million in total economic impact to the state by 2027. The expansion, first announced in 2021, includes lengthening the runway from 5,600 to 6,575 feet, constructing a new terminal building and increasing parking capacity. The release of the economic impact study comes as there continues to be significant opposition to the expansion plan from both environmental campaigners and local residents. “We’re looking at the creation of good jobs, renewed investments in our neighborhoods, and long-term, sustainable growth across the region,” said Robert Reed, chairman of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority.

Study: Expansion of Tweed New Haven Airport will have $444M economic impact by 2027

As of May 20, 2025, the XL Center on Trumbull Street in Hartford, Conn., is closed for construction to overhaul the arena — a project more than a decade in the making. That means Hartford’s XL Center will not host any games, concerts or other events this summer. The latest investment includes $118 million from the state and $20 million in private funding from Oak View Group, which operates the XL Center for CRDA. The facility also will have new commercial kitchens, and five premium “bunker” suites with access to the arena floor. Freimuth expects the upgrades to extend the building’s life another 15 to 20 years. Renovations are expected to be completed in fall 2025, NBC Connecticut reported. When the updated XL Center reopens, Freimuth hopes to attract approximately 30 concerts a year — five times more than it currently hosts.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/hartford-conns-50-year-old-xl-center-closes-for-latest-renovation-set-to-cost-138m/68100

On April 1, thousands of Health and Human Services workers arrived at work to find their identification badges failed to let them into their jobsite. They were placed on administrative leave with a letter of termination set for June 2. Employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were among those affected; 85% of that workforce was eliminated. Recently, the date of termination was changed to June 30. NIOSH has been annihilated. Worker safety is in danger if we do not speak up now. There are over 160 million workers in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is about 48% of the population. Workers spend most of their time on the job doing combinations of activities — such as prolonged sitting, prolonged kneeling, heavy lifting and being exposed to toxins — sometimes with fatal results. In 2023, 5,283 workers died on the job, according to BLS data. NIOSH staff do some of the most important public health and labor safety work in the U.S. For more than 50 years, NIOSH has been an essential resource for workers to help ensure their health and safety at many essential work sites.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/protect-niosh-worker-safety-opinion-health/748760/

Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled in favor of North America’s Building Trades Unions and the Baltimore-D.C. Metro Building and Construction Trades Council on May 16, ordering the DOD to set aside PLA-avoidant guidance, even for projects not related to the plaintiffs. Contreras’ order sides with the plaintiffs and says that the DOD must resume the practice of using PLAs. On Feb. 7, the DOD ordered its contracting officers to halt the use of PLAs on “large-scale construction projects,” according to a memo obtained by Construction Dive. That contrasted with a still-on-the-books executive order from Biden’s time in the White House, which mandated use of PLAs on projects receiving $35 million or more in federal funds. Then, on April 9, NABTU and the Baltimore-D.C. Metro Building and Construction Trades Council filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia., claiming the exclusion “interferes with Plaintiffs’ ongoing practice of negotiating such agreements with contractors bidding on federal large-scale construction projects.”

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/dod-resume-plas-court-nabtu-construction/748775/

The expansion of Kelley and South End elementary schools, along with roof replacements for three other elementary schools are on the horizon once they pass referendum. This project would build a new, slightly larger Kelley with four sections per grade, and includes a capacity of around 450 students. It would also build out the lower level of South End to have additional classrooms. Madancy said these changes will allow the district to redistrict and close one of the elementary schools. Though closing Flanders was considered during the special BOE meeting Madancy said further studies will be done before a decision is made on which school will be closed. This approved phase would cost $73.9 million with an estimated district share of $47.8 million. The Kelley portion of this phase would be $66.4 million with an estimated district share of $43.7 million and South End’s buildout would be $7.5 million with an estimated district share of $4.1 million.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/recordjournal/article/southington-connecticut-school-projects-referendum-20335387.php

As the developer and manager of the city-owned concert amphitheater, Howard Saffan looks forward to the just-announced demolition of the decommissioned power plant and its three smokestacks that loom over the live music venue. But as an organizer behind the fourth annual Soundside music festival, also nearby at Seaside Park, Saffan is not as enthusiastic about the tentative implosion date of Sept. 28, which is also day two of the concert event. Chad Parks, whose Bridgeport Station Development purchased the retired PSEG plant last year and is preparing the site for housing and public waterfront access, said he does not believe there will be an issue. Parks previously said if the demolition goes forward Sept,. 28 it would be around 4 a.m. Gates at Soundside open nearly eight hours later at 11:45 a.m. Thomas Gaudett, Ganim’s chief administrative officer, said Tuesday there may be valid logistical reasons to not have the ex-PSEG structure, recognized by its tallest, 500-foot red-and-white striped smokestack, razed on the same weekend as Soundside.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/ct-bridgeport-smokestack-demolition-date-soundside-20337735.php

Residents will have the opportunity to vote on multiple public works projects, including the creation of a new Public Works Department, during an all-day referendum June 3 at the Plainville Firehouse. The referendum will be held between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the firehouse at 77 W. Main St. Wazorko said the town is looking to have its Public Works Department and Roadways Department consolidated into one new building. If approved, the new building will be located on a parcel of land on Camp Street owned by Aiudi Construction. It will replace two 50-year-old buildings. In the case of the Shuttle Meadow Road pump station, the town is looking to replace existing pumps and motors with submersible style pumps, within a new precast wet well and valve vault, according to the town. The project would include all new electrical pump controls, instrumentation, a generator, modifications to the existing wet well and targeted demolition of existing components and site work, according to the town. The town anticipates receiving a $3.18 million loan from the State of Connecticut’s Clean Water Fund Program to cover the cost.

https://www.bristolpress.com/news/plainville-will-vote-on-these-projects-on-june-3/article_d0b27db7-1d12-4cb1-99d4-85ca3a7d3982.html

As construction begins this week on a streetscape improvement project, city officials said they hope to see a safer intersection on Hospital Hill by the end of 2025. The $1.3 million project is focused on improving the safety of the five-leg intersection of Stuart Avenue, Stevens Street and Magnolia Avenue, which the city determined was the third most dangerous intersection in Norwalk. The Department of Transportation, Mobility and Parking, which is managing the streetscape improvement project, also plans to create a clear path for traffic using stop signs and to adjust parking by adding a 13-space lot between Stuart and Magnolia Avenues and parallel parking along one side of Stevens Street. Colonna Concrete, a Woodbridge-based construction company, is expected to start work on Tuesday and to complete the project by the end of the year, according to KC Bushka, who works for Norwalk’s Department of Transportation, Mobility and Parking.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/norwalk-hospital-hill-road-safety-project-begins-20334589.php