State plans bridge makeover in Southbury
SOUTHBURY — The state Department of Transportation will conduct a public information meeting Wednesday to discuss the rehabilitation of the Interstate 84 bridges over Routes 6 and 67.
Construction is expected to begin next spring and be completed in fall 2018, assuming funding is available. The estimated construction cost is $3.5 million and will use both state and federal funds.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Southbury Town Hall, room 205, at 501 Main St. North.
The plan, which is in the preliminary design phase, calls for rehabilitating the bridges during off-peak night time hours. The structures were built in 1963 and rehabilitated in 1991.
The project is another one of a series of short-term transportation improvements on I-84.
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‘Beehive Bridge’ on state bonding docket
NEW BRITAIN — The Main Street Bridge overpass that will feature very large bee designs, bike lanes, brick pavers and wider sidewalks when it’s completed in the spring of 2018 is on schedule to get its final infusion of funds Friday.
The State Bond Commission will vote on approving $2.1 million of funding for the project over Route 72. Items that make it on the bond commission are approved almost without exception.
“We were $2.1 million short,” Mayor Erin Stewart said Monday of the $5.8 million project, which is being paid via state, federal and local StreetScape bond money.
The mayor said the project “has been a long time in the making. The concept design was my baby and it started one month after we took office (in 2013). We all know that when the state decided to put Route 72 right through the heart of downtown (in the 1970s), that’s what killed downtown. It’s no secret that led to the demise at the time of our businesses on Main Street and since then we’ve tried to figure out how to reconnect Main Street south with Main Street north. I believe this project does just that.”
The beehive concept will play a big part in the look of the bridge, of which the approximate one-year construction project will start in the spring of 2017.
“The bridge will have a strong bee theme,” the mayor said, adding, “The design of the walls will encompass the flight path of bumblebees. And, the material used will allow for the natural light to reflect the colors of the honeycomb.” In addition, officials said, there will be four separate bee sculptures on the bridge. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
State Bond Commission announces infrastructure project in Lebanon
The state Bond Commission recently announced its planned investment of nearly $780,000 in funding for infrastructure projects in three towns in the 19th Senatorial District, including a project involving a Lebanon dam. The commission is expected to approve $208,000 for Lebanon’s Brewster Pond Dam. The funding from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will be used to finance the design and construction of improvements at the state-owned dam. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Bristol Begins Springtime Street Paving
BRISTOL - The public works department advises motorists that it has begun repaving more than a dozen streets around the city.
The streets are Robertson Street, DiPietro Lane, DiPietro Court, Constance Lane, First Street, Bellevue Avenue, Beleden Garden Lane, Fourth Street, Sixth Street, Academy Street, Longview Avenue, Amy Lane, Anita Drive and the southern section of Doris Road.
Crews will mill off the existing pavement and put down a fresh layer.
"Once construction is complete, the city will restore affected areas by loaming, seeding, repairing walkways and driveway aprons," the public works department said in a statement. "There may be minor traffic delays during construction, however the road will remain open for mail delivery, emergency vehicles, and local traffic at all times. Temporary 'no parking' signs will be posted as needed during construction. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUENew Haven alders approve $523 million budget, including bonding for $45 million school
project
NEW HAVEN >> The Board of Alders’ Finance Committee recommended a $523.3 million city budget Monday for the forthcoming fiscal year, following lengthy deliberations that concluded with the approval of a $45 million school project by a narrow 6-5 vote. Committee members noted their overall spending plan focuses on the city’s fiscal responsibilities by providing funding for core services. Yet when it came time to consider the $45 million Strong School project, the alders had their biggest debate of the evening, with both supporters and opponents offering thoughts on why the city should bond for the costly but innovative school project. The spending plan approved Monday is $1.98 million less than Mayor Toni Harp’s proposed $525 million 2016-17 fiscal year budget, which was first introduced in February. The budget included changes introduced by Harp last week that addressed a shortfall in state budget funding. The committee’s new budget also adds additional money to pension funding, medical benefits accounts and adds money to the city’s rainy day fund, which currently has about $1.7 million. The recommended budget keeps the city’s tax rate at 41.55 mills, while the tax rate for motor vehicles is 37 mills as called for by the state legislature. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Kent Affordable Housing project to receive $1.55 M grant to continue project
KENT >> The state Bond Commission is expected to approve a $1,552,300 grant-in-aid to the Kent Affordable Housing, Inc., for Phase Two of Stuart Apartments in Kent, according to a statement from state Rep. Roberta Willis (D-64th). Phase Two consists of five new family rental units with restricted rents. The development will consist of three one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments and will include a handicap accessible unit as well as two units with a preference for low-income veterans.
The project site is located within walking distance of the commercial center of Kent, minimizing travel distances to local employment and providing easy access to local amenities such as banks, restaurants, the town library, shopping, public services and schools, according to the release.
“I am very pleased the state Bond Commission has placed this request on its agenda for approval,” said Willis, in a written statement. “The project provides additional safe and affordable housing to families that are priced out of the market. This is yet another important investment in needed affordable housing.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE