EAST HAMPTON >> Quietly, out of the spotlight, the high school renovation project is nearing completion.
Following a monthly meeting of the School Building Committee, Charles “Chuck” Warrington Jr., the senior project manager for Colliers International, said the project is 90 percent done. The work is also “on time and on budget,” he said.As just one more example of how close the project is to completion, School Principal John Fidler said the date has been set for Sept. 8 for the “grand opening” (reopening) of the school. In the meantime, the last block of renovated classrooms, the 400 series, will open at month’s end, Colliers’ Assistant Project Manager Rob Hart said. That will be the end of the furniture coming in,” Hart said. “There’s still some sports fitness equipment in storage, but that’s it. We’re still chasing some punch-list (items).” After reviewing the situation, crews were able to move some handicapped-accessible parking spaces closer to the school.Hart and Steven Smith, the senior project manager for Downes Construction, the general contractor, said efforts are continuing to resolve an issue involving copper contamination in the water system. The state Department of Public Health is coordinating with Downes to resolve the nagging issue, Smith said. “We have very good water coming out of that system,” Smith said, explaining the copper is a background issue that will not affect people drinking the water but “ultimately will stain the (toilet) bowls.”Building Committee Vice Chairwoman and biology professor Michele R. Barber said the issue involves adjusting the pH factor in the water and “seasoning” the new copper pipes. Smith said Downes has four other issues it still needs to rectify, adding that they would be addressed over the Easter recess. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Southington officials hope state will fund 5-way intersection fix
SOUTHINGTON — Town officials are hoping that state money to reconfigure the Curtiss and Hart streets junction, a complex five-way intersection, will be available this year after being withheld last year.
Adjusting the intersection is part of an effort to make the pedestrian crossing for the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail safer.
The Town Council unanimously approved the work at a meeting on March 13.
Town Manager Garry Brumback said the Capitol Region Council of Governments solicited bids and selected Martin Laviero Construction of Bristol for the work. The company has done work for the town before, including replacing the Town Hall roof The bid came in around the estimated cost of $350,000, Brumback said. Expected state funding was frozen mid-year in 2016.
“This is subject to (state) money being received,” Brumback said. “If we get (state) money, then we will go forward with this project.”
Public Works Director Keith Hayden described the Hart Street and Curtiss Street intersection as “kind of dangerous.” One home at 79 Curtiss St. has been struck by cars six times, according to the owners, Charles and Cynthia Chapman. The latest was in 2014 when a car crashed into the front porch and door.
Hayden wants to create a T-style intersection, which will make the area safer and allow pedestrians walking on the trail to cross more easily. The trail currently runs south from Curtiss Street.
Money from an Environmental Protection Agency settlement against the now-defunct Solvents Recovery Service will fund trail construction north from Curtiss Street to Lazy Lane.
During the March 13 meeting, Town Councilor John Barry said it would be dangerous to expand the trail if the intersection is not made safer. He also has doubts about the state money being available.
“I’m just concerned — the state is broke and here we are relying on the state,” Barry said. “Maybe we’ll see it, who knows.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
The Transportation Committee on Friday voted 19-16 in favor of the latest bill. It now awaits further action in the House of Representatives.
Lawmakers have been debating for years whether to install tolls as a way to generate much-needed revenue for state transportation needs. Proponents say they're needed because the state gas tax is not generating enough revenue.
Opponents say residents are already paying too much in taxes. Some lawmakers say their constituents don't trust the General Assembly to spend the toll revenues on transportation needs.
Under this year's bill, the state gas tax would be reduced by 2.5 cents over five years to help alleviate having to pay a toll.
Once-delayed Radisson room-to-apt. conversions resume
Following a delay caused by a legal dispute, interior renovation has resumed on the upper eight floors of the 388-room Radisson Hotel in downtown Hartford, construction officials say.
But the estimated $6.5 million conversion of 200 hotel rooms into 96 apartments, some of which overlook Dunkin' Donuts Park, won't be ready by opening day — as originally planned, according to nationwide building contractor Greython Construction.
Kyle Klewin, CEO for Greython, based in Stonington, which took over the project from another contractor, says the completion date has been pushed back to summer.
When finished, the 18-story Radisson will have 188 hotel rooms remaining plus its one- and two-bedroom market-rate apartments, ranging in size from around 800 to 900 square feet, Klewin said. Hartford's Crosskey Architects is the project's designer.
"Things are really on track now,'' Klewin said. "We've got significant manpower on the project. I think it's going to be great for downtown. It's going to be great for the ballfield.''
Occupancy will occur in phases, as each floor is finished, he said. The new apartments will feature amenities such as washers-dryers and granite countertops. Each will be individually metered for electricity use. The hotel also houses a restaurant and underground parking.
The hotel's rooms-to-apartments conversion got off to a rocky start.
On Jan. 27, the hotel's owner, 50 Morgan Hospitality Group LLC, sued in Hartford Superior Court its original contractor overseeing the conversion work. The suit, now pending in federal court, accuses Arizona-based Excel Hotel Services Inc. of breaching its $6 million services contract.
Charter Oak Greenway, Air Line Projects Nearing Completion
Save this date: May 18, 2017."
That's how I began a story I wrote in October 2015 on the proposed extension of the Charter Oak Greenway from the current terminus along Camp Meeting Road into Bolton. Well, you are going to have to wait a bit longer to journey into Bolton - at least off-road.
According to Kevin Nursick, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, the trail bridge over Camp Meeting Road had to be redesigned and now the project is slated to be completed later this summer. So, save this date: later summer 2017.
"They ran into issues with the pedestrian bridge so the completion date has been pushed back," Nursick said. "We needed to tweak the bridge design and there is a three-month wait for fabrication."That's the bad news. The good news is what has already been completed from Porter Street to Finley Road - just a few hundred yards from the Bolton border - looks great. The base of the bridge is in, the trails have been cut and graded through the woods between Interstate 384 and Camp Meeting Road.
The section of the greenway is part of a $6.5 million project which will connect the trail that runs from the banks of the Connecticut River in East Hartford through Manchester. The final 2.75 miles will bring it into Bolton and Bolton Notch State Park. The trail will then connect with the Hop River Trail which runs to Willimantic and Vernon. Both the trail and greenway are part of the 2,900-mile East Coast Greenway that runs from Calais, Maine to Key West, Fla.
Construction of the second section of the greenway will enter the woods at the Bolton line and then travel along the southern right-of-way near the eastbound lanes of I-384 to the exit ramp for Route 85. The 10-foot-wide path will cross over I-384 to the exit ramp for Route 85 and follow land along the westbound lanes of 384 before crossing Route 6/44 near the commuter parking lot and then to Bolton Notch. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE