HARTFORD — The state Department of Administrative Services has disclosed cost details for a $254 million makeover of the aging state office building on Capitol Avenue — answering a question that's on a lot of people's minds in the legislature.
The largest cost, $147 million for construction, was previously disclosed. That includes work in the building itself as well as parking garage for 1,000-plus vehicles and a pedestrian plaza to the east of the building, across the street from The Bushnell. After construction, the largest cost is $24 million for relocating agencies out and into the building.
Other cost estimates released to The Courant include: $15 million for architectural and engineering services; $14 million for new equipment; $14 million for contingencies; $10 million for the removal of hazardous materials; $8.7 million for construction administration; and nearly $10 million for new telecommunication systems.
There are smaller items, too, like $1.4 million for art. State statutes require that 1 percent of total costs for public building projects be set aside for art.
DAS disclosed the budget as it asks the State Bond Commission to release $22 million at its next meeting. That is most of the $24 million approved by the legislature to plan for the project.
The department had made the request for the July 28 bond commission meeting, but the item didn't make it onto the agenda. The balance of funding for the renovation — $230 million — would still need to be approved by the legislature. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Paving on Manchester's East Middle Turnpike already deteriorating
MANCHESTER — Asphalt applied last year on a section of East Middle Turnpike is already deteriorating.
The town has a performance bond on the project, and officials say they will discuss rectification with the contractor.
The contractor rebuilt 2,700 feet of the roadway from Princeton Street to Woodbridge Street at the end of the 2014 construction season. The work was part of a $1.5 million project that also included sidewalk and curb replacement and improvements at the crest of the hill near Coburn Road.
The primary contractor was Morais Concrete, and the paving subcontractor was Waterford-based B&W Paving and Landscaping. At the time of the work, installation of the asphalt met standards, Town Engineer Jeff LaMalva said.
During the winter, however, the pavement did not hold up well. An independent consultant recently reported on results of core sampling and found problems with the asphalt.
"One of the primary deficiencies was that the material did not compact adequately," LaMalva said.
In Manchester, that batch of asphalt was used only on the Princeton-to-Woodbridge project, he said.
The problem is similar to an issue the town encountered with a road project in the area of Spring and Autumn streets several years ago, General Manager Scott Shanley said. The contractor in that case removed the problematic pavement and replaced it with new asphalt, Shanley said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Masonry construction, restoration firm breaks ground in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN >> Mayor Daniel T. Drew held a groundbreaking ceremony July 29 to welcome two new businesses to town. The event marked the start of construction for the new headquarters site for Armani Restoration and Connecticut Mason Contractors, now located on Bysiewicz Drive.
Both companies are relocating their headquarters to Middletown and expanding their operations here, according to a release from the mayor’s office.
Their presence in the city highlights the growing importance of this location as the “Connecticut Construction Cluster” for state and regional companies working in and with the industry, Drew’s statement reads.
Each specialize in areas of masonry construction and masonry restoration for clients throughout New England and New York. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Malloy, state, local officials tout highway work in Meriden Monday
MERIDEN — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker joined other state and local officials Monday to discuss the importance of improving possibly the most complex and dangerous highway intersection in the state.
Last month, the State Bond Commission approved spending $1 million to study and design a solution to the interchange of Interstates 91, 691 and Route 15 in Meriden.
The total cost to implement that solution and fix the interchange is estimated to be $90 million and the project will take at least five years, state officials said at a press conference held at the Bee Street commuter lot in the area of the interchange Monday.
“This is a major step toward enhancing safety and traffic flow on one of the most complex and congested interstate highway interchanges in Connecticut,” Malloy said.
He added that there are 195,000 vehicles traveling in the area daily, and there have been 963 traffic accidents during 2012-14. Asked whether there were other highway interchanges that were either more or equally as dangerous, Malloy said, “This area would be hard to beat. It’s pretty dynamic.”
Just last weekend, there were five accidents in the area within six hours of each other.
“This is an important day marking the beginning of a long, long overdue review and planning process for one of he busiest intersections we face each and every day,” Redeker said. “Every morning, every afternoon, every weekend: backups, tie ups, traffic congestion, and worse, traffic accidents and indeed fatalities have plagued this area for years.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE