The beeping of a backhoe and the rush of asphalt from a dump truck was the soundtrack to Monday morning at the Lymes’ Senior Center. Building Committee Chairwoman Jeri Baker donned a fluorescent yellow and orange vest and a hard hat to take a walk around the $6.4 million renovation project, which is on track for completion by March after a belated start. The committee hired Newfield Construction of Hartford to manage the project designed by Old Lyme-based Point One Architects. The guys ― including at least one woman driving the asphalt truck ― are preparing the site for the final phase of construction, which will focus on the interior of the expanded 8,737-square-foot building.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20241118/lymes-senior-center-on-track-for-march-reopening/#

City leaders aim to begin construction next month on the final phase of a $4 million ARPA-project to enhance the local harbor and improve the athletic complex behind the library. The last leg of Founders Walk, connecting Milford Public Library off New Haven Avenue and the city marina off Helwig Street, is set to be completed next month along with a redesign of Shipyard Lane — weather permitting — according to State Sen. James Maroney. The redesign would have Shipyard Lane continue past the library and the Fowler athletic complex’s basketball and tennis courts before turning sharply right and continuing to the boat launch parking lot.

Milford to Begin Final Phase of $4M Harbor and Athletic Complex Upgrades

From pulling permits to disconnecting utilities, the former Hotchkiss Mill property on Water and Church streets is being prepared for demolition, officials say. The demolition of the buildings will take place over the next 60 days as part of phase one of the Hotchkiss Mill project, Carbone said. Once the demolition is completed, she said, the property owners will conduct brownfield remediation work on the property and then determine a redevelopment plan. Plans to redevelop the former Hotchkiss Mill property began in August 2021. A development group led by Paul Janerico, owner of Water’s Way and Paydirt LLC, presented the City Council with a concept design of the properties at 199 Water St., formerly known as the Hotchkiss Bros. factory, north to 229 Church St., formerly known as the Minetto building.

https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/torrington-hotchkiss-mill-property-demolition-19900414.php

The state has awarded the city $1.4 million for two new soccer fields at Columbus Park, making way for MidState Medical Center to develop land currently home to grass soccer fields. The $4 million Meriden Soccer Athletic Complex project involves tearing out two existing softball fields at Columbus Park, located at 208 Lewis Ave., and replacing them with two all-turf soccer fields. With the combined $3.1 million from the hospital and the state, the town only needed to invest $1 million to complete the project, which is expected to open to the public next year. The state money was provided through the Community Investment Fund. The Columbus Park project is the latest in recent park renovations, including two baseball fields installed at North End Field last year and a new playscape in Columbus Park adjacent to John Barry Elementary.

https://www.ctinsider.com/recordjournal/article/meriden-1-4m-soccer-fields-columbus-park-midstate-19917470.php

Demolition of the former elementary school commenced Oct. 30, following the approval of a $600,000 construction project budget transfer to address a shortfall in the Consolidated Early Learning Academy building project budget and allow for abatement and demolition at the old Consolidated site. The $29.2 million Consolidated Early Learning Academy construction project was approved by taxpayers in October 2019 — along with $84.2 million for a new high school — with some costs offset by state funding. With abatement of the old Consolidated School site complete, about two-thirds of the building had been knocked down as of Wednesday, Joe Vetro from O&G Industries said during the PBC’s Nov. 13 meeting.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/new-fairfield-old-consolidated-school-demolition-19916233.php

The North Street Bridge is on track to be replaced next summer, but doing the job on a shorter timeline is going to cost up to $700,000 more than originally expected. The Department of Public Works originally projected it would cost $3 million to replace the century-old bridge over at least 18 months, but officials drastically shortened the timeline to just 10 months after residents bemoaned the prospect of facing a year-long traffic jam, among other concerns. DPW asked the BET budget committee for the extra $700,000 on Nov. 13. The request was approved by the budget committee, but it still needs authorization from the full BET and the Representative Town Meeting. Work is now scheduled to begin in March. The first phase, from March to June, will keep the bridge open to traffic with some intermittent disruptions as crews do pre-work, like relocating utilities. The second phase, from June to August, will see the bridge torn down and replaced.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/greenwich-north-street-bridge-cost-more-faster-19915960.php

The state Department of Transportation will hold a hybrid public information meeting next week where it will present its plans for a $32.8 million rehabilitation of the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge. The meeting will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Montville Public Safety Building at 911 Norwich-New London Turnpike. Participants can also join on Zoom. Mohegan-Pequot Bridge is a two-lane, steel girder bridge that spans the Thames River. It connects Montville and Preston via Route 2A. According to Barrows, the project, which is expected to begin in spring 2028, will address “existing deterioration” on the bridge, and extend the service life for “another 20 years or more.” DOT Communications Director Josh Morgan added the project will involve repairing critical steel components of the bridge to make sure they remain in “a state of good repair,” while milling and paving the road to make a smooth travel surface.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20241115/public-meeting-to-be-held-next-week-on-32-8m-rehab-of-mohegan-pequot-bridge/

The $57.5 million project got underway after a series of adjustments to reduce the cost and meet the approved budget. These changes included eliminating improvements to security vestibules and fire protection systems and redesigning the HVAC system. The original project included improving HVAC systems at Lyme Consolidated School, Center School, Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and Mile Creek Elementary School. It also included fire protection system upgrades, additional parking spots and the expansion of the Mile Creek building. After receiving the first bids for the HAVC for the three schools in August, the project cost had risen $7.7 million above the $57.5 million budget approved by referendum in 2022. Before the referendum, the district received a $9 million grant for the Mile Creek School expansion from the state Department of Administrative Services. In 2023, the three other schools received $12 million in grants for HVAC system upgrades, a state initiative spurred in response to COVID-19. Nevaiser said the district’s need to replace aging air conditioning equipment existed before the pandemic.

Construction Work Begins at Lyme-Old Lyme Schools as New Bids, Cuts Resolve Cost Overruns

Still reeling after learning a $54 million proposed senior center and health department campus would be delayed by more than six years, city officials have turned their sights to rehabilitating their existing buildings. Work on three bridges, and Harbor Brook dredging will significantly delay campus construction, Scarpati recapped for members of the Senior Center/ Health Department Building Committee on Wednesday. However, the dilapidated building on the proposed site at 116 Cook Ave. will likely come down this year. The lease with the state is up in 2032, but Daniels is in talks with state officials about allowing the city to renovate both floors simultaneously. Daniels asked the Finance Committee to allow him to apply for a $250,000 Community Investment Fund grant to do a needs assessment on the Health Department building. That leaves the senior center at 22 W. Main St, an 84-year-old building with water leaking throughout the outer walls into the interior. The estimated cost to repair the walls is about $360,000 however a laser roof scan conducted last week revealed about 40 percent of the insulation under the roof is saturated, Daniels said.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/recordjournal/article/meriden-senior-center-health-department-delay-19916401.php

A consultant hired by the town estimated Thursday at a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting that the 40-acre Gales Ferry Intermodal site being considered for a quarry application would eventually contribute more than $1 million a year to the town’s tax base. Donald Poland of Goman + York in East Hartford cited the impact of the proposed construction of three buildings totaling 26,000 square feet on the former Dow Chemical site off Route 12 within the next 13 years. “When the development is stabilized in year 12, the site is projected to be net positive by approximately $1,064,192,” according to Poland’s slide shown Thursday. He added that the quarry project would lead to an estimated 77 full-time-equivalent jobs on a temporary basis and 130 permanent full-time jobs in the region. The effect would create an extra $7.6 million in revenue in the region, he said.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20241114/analyst-controversial-ledyard-quarry-project-will-eventually-create-1m-in-tax-revenue/