STRATFORD — The project was supposed to launch a new era of air travel at Sikorsky Memorial Airport.
Instead, the long-delayed runway safety upgrades at the Stratford-based, Bridgeport-owned Sikorsky have been stalled for months — the result of an ongoing federal review prompted by a contractor’s blunder and worsened by airport management problems.
And that has left Sikorsky, which one city official said already operates at a $500,000 yearly loss, with its primary runway — one of only two — out of service for the past eight months.
“This is a $43 million project,” said David Faile, president of the Friends of Sikorsky organization. “And all we have to show for it right now is (nearby) Main Street has been rebuilt (and) they rehabilitated a bunch of marshlands and wetlands, so we have turtle breeding grounds
“It’s really curtailing operations,” Faile said. “My frustration level is pretty darn high.”
John Ricci, who oversees Sikorsky as the new head of Bridgeport’s public facilities department, hopes the Federal Aviation Administration’s work stoppage order issued last Labor Day weekend will be lifted by June 6.
“That’s our target date right now,” Ricci said. “What’s being effected is the loss of revenue and the inconvenience to tenants and the flying public. We want to have this done.”
Ricci said there are 65 days of work left, once construction recommences. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
West Main Street work frustrates New Britain drivers
NEW BRITAIN — From one end of West Main Street to the other, construction signs are as ubiquitous these days as traffic signals.
The state Department of Transportation continues to work on bridges in three locations on or near West Main. Meanwhile, the city’s current phase of reconstruction and widening of sidewalks is approaching completion in the Central Park area.
While pedestrians and drivers have become accustomed to the city’s construction fencing, traffic cones and detours in the last year, the state projects are causing their fair share of frustration.
“This is as far as I go these days,” said Mona Wade from her vehicle in the parking lot of the West Main Street Popeyes restaurant on Friday. “I turn right back around to avoid all of this. It seems like they’ve been working on that bridge forever. Enough already.”
Wade, who lives just over the Berlin line, said her old route home was to head east on West Main and turn south on Lincoln Street. Since construction began last winter, she has become all too familiar with “going out of my way” — south on Corbin Avenue.
“I’m not ignorant to the fact that it has to be done, but it couldn’t be in a worse spot,” Wade said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Hospital development would have ‘huge impact’ on region’s economy
Preston — The economic impact a proposed $600 million development of the former Norwich Hospital property would have on the region could be double the initial investment, spinning off hundreds of construction jobs in addition to the permanent positions the Mohegan tribe promised as it agreed to buy the nearly 400-acre property.
Steve Lanza, a University of Connecticut economist, said Friday that the Mohegans' announced intention to develop a mixed-use site that could include retail, housing, recreation, retail and lodging would likely add another $600 million to the local economy in addition to the initial five-year investment by the tribe. The plan promises the addition of between 200 and 700 jobs to the local economy.
Steve MacKenzie, executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region economic-development agency, said the area has not seen an investment like this since the Mohegans and Mashantuckets developed their local casinos, the two largest in North America.
"The economic impact is going to be wonderful," MacKenzie said. "All the municipalities in our region will benefit."
And the benefits will accrue beyond the financial bounty of increased economic activity and more jobs, said Tony Sheridan, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Sufficient power available for summer season
Electricity should be in adequate supply in Connecticut and the rest of New England during the summer if temperatures aren't unusually high and disruptions in natural gas supply to power plants is low.
That's the latest electric power forecast from ISO New England, which operates the region's bulk power system and wholesale electricity markets.
New England is expected to have the electricity needed to meet demand, "under normal weather and power-system conditions," ISO Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Vamsi Chadalavada said.
Construction on the region's natural gas pipeline infrastructure "will limit delivery of natural gas to some power plants and require them to obtain fuel from different sources," Chadalavada said.
Natural gas pipeline expansion projects are scheduled to take place between April and November, he said. If New England's electricity demand is unusually high when deliveries to power plants are limited by construction, ISO New England would have to turn to alternative sources and operating provisions, Chadalavada said.
New England has resources it can use when demand for power reaches its highest point, such as generators that produce electricity by using everything from oil, coal, and hydro, to wind, as well as "demand-response resources," large power users that can be called on to reduce their energy use.
There's also an option to import electricity into New England from New York and Canada, Chadalavada said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Sidewalk work going well in Torrington
TORRINGTON — Businesses that rely on foot traffic are taking a hit during the downtown sidewalk construction project, but their owners are optimistic about the finished product. "They're basically my only customers right now," Tina Sessa, co-owner of Cafe 38 on Main Street, said of the construction workers building the new sidewalks. "But it looks beautiful."
Crews from Morais Concrete Service of Springfield, Mass., have been working since April 11 on the sidewalk project, which is being paid for by a $1.2 million federal grant. Main Street is shut down from Water Street to Maiden Lane, and will reopen on May 27 in time for the annual Memorial Day parade. Old, crumbling sidewalks are being replaced by new concrete sidewalks with granite curbing that matches other parts of the downtown. Shutting down the road is allowing the company to complete the project faster, according to city officials. Business owners agree the construction company is moving faster than they expected. Greg Darling, restaurant manager at Backstage, said he expected to be closed for lunch for six weeks during the construction but only had to shut down for one week. Crews completed the sidewalk in front of the restaurant first and he quickly reopened for regular hours. "There's no parking and you can't drive on the road so business has dropped significantly," Darling said. "We're trying to keep it open so customers can come in if they want to."
Plans for the sidewalk project call for extending the sidewalk about 14 feet into the road in some areas. Darling is hoping he can use that additional sidewalk space to add more tables for outdoor dining. He currently has a row of six tables along the restaurant's exterior wall.
A substantial part of the project will need to be completed by May 27, the Friday before Memorial Day, according to Tim Waldron, the mayor's aide. Sidewalks will need to be done and the new LED faux antique streetlights will be installed. Afterward, bike racks and benches will be added. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE