November 24, 2014

CT Construction Digest November 24, 2014

Sacred Heart celebrates "Topping Off" of athletic complex

This week marked a milestone in the construction of Convent of the Sacred Heart’s new athletic complex. Its final steel beam was raised to the summit of the facility during a “Topping Off” ceremony Thursday. The athletic complex is the cornerstone of $25.5 million construction project that also includes a new dining room with an outdoor dining terrace, an outdoor commons area featuring an amphitheater, new playgrounds and an alumnae walk. When completed, the athletic complex will cover 35,000 square feet and incorporate a variety of needs, including a multipurpose space for all-school liturgies, assemblies and other major events. The groundbreaking took place last May, and the complex is scheduled to open in September 2015. Here’s more about the ceremony from Kathleen Failla, Sacred Heart’s director of public relations and communications:
FAILLA:
“In the days preceding the Topping Off, members of Sacred Heart’s Class of 2015 and the student representatives of the Lower and Middle Schools signed the beam. The beam bore the school’s colors – it was painted white and signatures were green.
“Hoisted by a crane, the beam was expertly lifted from its temporary perch in front of The Barat Center for Early Childhood Education. The preschool and pre-kindergarten students and their teachers had a front row seat. The children excitedly scrambled along the porch railing for a view of the action. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Redecker: DOT pledges to enhance transportation center

In recent weeks, much has been written about the Connecticut Department of Transportation's plans for improvements at the Stamford Transportation Center, and, most frequently, about station parking. The department and designated developer, Stamford Manhattan Development Ventures, are close to an agreement to move forward with a new parking garage. We believe it is now timely to present clear, factual information that seems to sometimes get lost in the din. We have been working with and listening to city officials, commuters and other citizens -- all of whom have provided valuable input that has and will continue to help shape our plans. Simply stated, here is our commitment to everyone: Even during construction, there will never be fewer parking spaces than there are today.
The final project will have 273 more spaces than are currently available.
All parking will have direct access to station platforms. The 2004 garage (with 1,200 spaces) will remain. The old 1987 garage will be demolished and replaced by parking facilities, including commuter parking spaces, and transit-oriented development of commercial, retail, hotel and housing enhancements. Traffic and taxi circulation will be improved. Bicycle and pedestrian access will be enhanced, including a new pedestrian bridge. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Terryville Tunnel makes the list for rail repairs

PLYMOUTH — The longest railroad tunnel in Connecticut, which opened 103 years ago just west of Pequabuck, is little-used today but could prove a critical piece for the potential renewal of passenger rail service in the region. Consultant Stephen Gazillo, director of transportation planning for the Rocky Hill-based URS Corp, said it was once the longest bored tunnel in the United States, featured on postcards and renowned as “a major engineering feat.” At the time, it cost $3 million to construct — the equivalent of more than $75 million today — and required years of hard labor by hundreds of workers who often used picks and shovels. Regrettably, the years haven’t been kind to the tunnel, which is 3,850 feet long. “There hasn’t been a lot of work done to it,” he said, since the first train rolled through it at 11:33 a.m. on Jan. 29, 1911. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE

Meriden HUB project continues to move forward

MERIDEN — Passing by the 14-acre Meriden Hub site on a daily basis, it’s difficult to discern the progress of crews working to convert the former downtown commercial site into a park, with two portions of the property available for private development.
But the park is taking shape, said Public Works Director Robert J. Bass.  “I’m sure some people looking on wonder, do they really know what they’re doing?” Bass said, because on any given day, work at the site can look random. “It probably doesn’t make sense to people on top.”
Bass refers to those looking on from outside the project as “on top” because the park, located between State and Pratt streets, dips below street level to hold water in the event of a major downtown flood. People often forget that the project is part of a state-funded, $14 million flood control upgrade taking place throughout the city, he said. In just the last month, groundwater and runoff seen at the center of the site throughout the last several months was drained so that the general contractor — Meriden-based LaRosa Construction — could begin shaping the channel that will hold Harbor Brook. Spectators looking on can now see an outline of the channel, which curves through the middle of the property. This is the path the brook will take once it begins flowing above ground once more, Bass said. Construction crews uncovered a portion of the brook in the southwest corner of the property just over a month ago. Previously, the brook had been covered for more than 40 years, traveling through two underground culverts. The culverts are buried beneath the construction site and run parallel to East Main Street and the former Church and Morse building until the brook is revealed. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
 
 
Mohegan - Despite recent blows to its expansion efforts, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority wants to keep pursuing projects. "Probably a more controlled way for us to expand is to look at things we can purchase, either ourselves or with partners," Mitchell Etess, the authority's chief executive officer, said Thursday following a conference call with financial analysts. "We're refocusing our resources away from hearings and presentations and into analyzing opportunities. We're not letting these recent disappointments inhibit our efforts or our enthusiasm." On Tuesday, a partnership involving the authority failed to win a casino license issued for Philadelphia. In September, the authority's plan to build a $1.1 billion resort in Revere, Mass., was dashed when Massachusetts gaming regulators awarded the sole Greater Boston casino license to Wynn Resorts.The authority still hopes to win a license for a project it has proposed in New York state's Catskills region. And, officials said, the authority could soon proceed with a $120 million, 400-room hotel project at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, as well as an Indian casino project in Washington state, where it's partnered with the Cowlitz Tribe. Hotel construction is set to begin early next year, pending the completion of a financing agreement between the authority and the Mohegan Tribe. When the hotel is completed, the tribe will lease it to the authority, Mario Kontomerkos, the authority's chief financial officer, said. The hotel will be attached to Mohegan Sun in the vicinity of its Winter Casino and Winter Garage areas. Authority officials said the long-dormant Cowlitz casino project got a boost late last month when the federal government announced it will take into trust for the tribe a 152-acre reservation near La Center, Wash. Once the land transaction takes place, the Mohegan authority can begin designing the proposed casino. Kontomerkos said the authority has made a substantial investment in the land and plans no additional capital outlay in the project. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE