NORWALK — Local conservation group Norwalk Harbor Keeper has cited a December 2016 letter from the state budget office as grounds for the Connecticut Department of Transportation to rethink its plan to replace the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River.
In the letter, Bruce Wittchen of the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management noted that the DOT and Federal Transit Administration, as part of their required Environmental Impact Evaluation of the project, added “maintaining or improving navigational capacity and dependability for maritime traffic in the Norwalk River” as grounds for replacing the bridge.
“Please explain why CTDOT decided to modify the project purpose and need after the public scoping period to include the clause about maintaining and improving navigational capacity and dependability for marine traffic in the Norwalk River, instead of proceeding as OPM suggested in its scoping comments,” wrote Wittchen in the budget office’s response to the impact evaluation
Jonathan R. Cohen, spokesman for Norwalk Harbor Keeper, described the correspondence as supportive of the conservation group’s position “that there is no need for a large, expensive lift bridge” to accommodate maritime traffic north of the bridge.“Responsible oversight parties have asked the DOT to consider alternatives to the billion-dollar plan and they have ignored those requests,” said Cohen, who is also a member of the group. “Here you have the OPM, which is the governor’s senior staff, saying what we’ve been arguing all the long, that the DOT should look at less costly and invasive alternatives.”
Parties file court briefsIn January 2018, Norwalk Harbor Keeper filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, challenging the DOT, FTA and U.S. Department of Transportation to rethink the bridge replacement plan. The nonprofit group asked the court to invalidate the state and FTA’s plan to replace the Walk Bridge with a new 240-foot lift bridge and instead “fully evaluate a fixed bridge alternative.”
On Tuesday, the plaintiffs and defendants filed motions for summary judgment, asking the court to dismiss the the other’s case. Accompanying the requests were briefs and memorandums laying out their respective positions.
John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, addressed the matter of navigation in his memorandum supporting the defendants' motion for summary judgment.
“The Record demonstrates that FTA and CTDOT had reasonable bases for defining the Purpose and Need Statement to include navigability,” Durham wrote. “Specifically, CTDOT understood from comments received during initial scoping that maintaining current navigation was necessary to obtain permits required for bridge construction.”Both the FTA and DOT, Durham wrote, understood from communications with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the initial project scoping that the corps “would not issue required permits unless the bridge design maintained current vertical navigation.” The U.S. Coast Guard was also part of the discussion, according to Durham.
”The Record also demonstrates that CTDOT and FTA understood from conversations with the USCG during initial scoping that because Congress designated the Norwalk River as a navigable water, the USCG would not approve a bridge design that did not maintain current navigation and the vertical clearance established by the I-95 Bridge north of the Walk Bridge,” Durham wrote.
Norwalk Harbor Keeper, however, in a brief filed Tuesday cited Wittchen’s 2016 letter as evidence that the DOT’s justifications for the project evolved to include navigation. Wittchen noted that the DOT in February 2015 didn’t mention maritime navigation as an issue.
“The purpose of this project is to replace the existing, deteriorating bridge with a resilient bridge structure which will enhance the safety and reliability of commuter and intercity passenger rail service, offer operational flexibility and ease of maintenance, as well as provide for increased capacity and efficiencies of rail transportation along the New Haven Line/Northeast Corridor,” wrote Wittchen, citing the DOT Notice of Scoping as posted Feb. 3, 2015.
OPM responded favorably to the DOT’s scoping notice and asked the department to consider leaving the existing bridge in a fixed position. “Given that it does not appear that maintaining maritime navigation is an essential element of this project, as it would be if the bridge separated the Thames River from Long Island Sound, for example, perhaps DOT should also evaluate the alternative of securing the existing bridge in closed position, despite the loss of navigability for vessels too large to pass beneath the bridge,” OPM wrote.
Harbor traffic cited
Norwalk Harbor Keeper maintains the DOT’s proposed vertical lift bridge project — at nearly $1 billion — is too expensive for taxpayers and too big for the harbor. In its lawsuit, the group cited declining maritime traffic as reasons to build a smaller, fixed bridge.
Marine commerce and transportation to the upper Norwalk River have “dropped precipitously” as a result of “long-term trends, including deindustrialization of the upper Norwalk River, decreasing land transportation costs, and gentrification along the upper Norwalk River,” the group’s lawsuit states.
The DOT plans to begin replacing the Walk Bridge in late 2019. The 122-year-old structure, which carries 200 trains over the Norwalk River each day, has outlived its life span as evidenced by “repeated operational failures” and vulnerability to damage from storm surges, according to the department. “The new bridge, currently under design, will provide safe and reliable rail service with increased efficiencies of rail transportation while improving navigational capacity and dependability for marine traffic passing beneath the bridge,” according to the DOT’s Walk Bridge Program website.
Oxford power plant commissioned
Jordan Grice
It’s tough to argue against Oxford’s new gas-fired power plant when it has been powering homes for a while now.
While it has been powering online since June, the CPV Towantic Energy Center on Woodruff Hill Road was formally commissioned by state and local officials Wednesday, acknowledging what is now one of the state’s largest single generator plants — second only to Millstone nuclear power plant of Dominion Energy in Waterford.
“Looking back over the last seven or so years it certainly seems like it went by in a flash, but I can tell you quite honestly when we were going through the permitting process it seemed like this would never get here,” Andy Bazinet, vice president of development for CPV, said. “Today, this facility is delivering efficient, reliable power to the people of New England, which is truly an amazing thin
Development of the plant has been over 20 years in the making, gaining traction when CPV was bought in 2012. CPV representatives said a combination of litigation and market cycles slowed the project.
While its billed output capped at 805 megawatts, CPV Towantic has been operating at much less to provide electricity and other services to over 800,000 homes and businesses throughout New England. Following construction, the plant will support more than 20 jobs on a permanent basis.The site’s proximity to natural gas from the Algonquin Interstate Pipeline and the Connecticut Light & Power 115kV circuit between Baldwin Junction and Beacon Falls was a prime reason to locate the plant on 25 acres in rural Oxford.
The project had been backed by GE Energy Financial Services, which built the plant’s twin turbines that generate electricity and also serves as financial partners with CBV.
As with any project of this size, CPV Towantic was met with its share of oppositions from residents of Oxford and neighboring towns expressing environmental concerns, among others. Oxford’s first selectman George Temple said that has since been resolved.
“Like anything else, people get used to it, but the important thing is the proof is in the pudding,” he said. “It isn’t what people had said it was going to be.”
Since it went online in June, Temple said the opposition has essentially disappeared among Oxford residents. Some neighboring towns, however, still have outstanding concerns.
While environmental and health worries have been laid to rest, Bazinet said there have being some issues with the light and noise that the plant produces. He said the company is actively working with residents to address ways to alleviate those issues.
Town officials are also looking forward to future development on the remainder of land. Temple said they are waiting on the approval of the E Commerce Drive, which would open the door for the town to market remaining space as “shovel-ready” industrial lots.“They are really prime building lots, plus they are in the airport building zone so that’s another selling point, so I would suspect we’ll be moving along,” he said. “We have had a lot of inquires already.”
Construction continues for Bristol Hospital Ambulatory Care Center and Centre Square access road
BRIAN M. JOHNSON
BRISTOL – Construction continues with the Bristol Hospital Ambulatory Care Center and Centre Square access road, with City Engineer Ray Rogozinski estimating that the former is now 30 to 40 percent complete while the latter should wrap up next month.
The Ambulatory Care Center, when completed, will be a 60,000 square foot, three-story building that will house services for cardiology, endocrinology and diabetes, neurology, orthopedics, rheumatology and urology. Site work began this May and blasting occurred throughout the summer. In August, city officials signed one of the last beams that was put in place for the building framework. Now, the exterior of the structure is slowly taking shape.
“The Bristol Hospital building is progressing on schedule,” said Rogozinski. “Construction crews are now working on the building exterior and façade. They are also putting in the lighting. They are aiming to complete the exterior before the winter to make the building winter-tight and then continue the work through the winter. That project is scheduled to complete in the spring.”
Rogozinski noted that construction crews working on this project have been relocated from the city parking lot to allow more parking for the public visiting businesses on Main Street. They are now parking on city property behind the building.
The Centre Square access road, a 1,000-foot road which begins at the intersection of North Main and Laurel Streets and cuts through Centre Square to Riverside Avenue, is now 90 percent complete said Rogozinski.
“Construction crews are still doing some streetscape work,” he said. “They are putting in stamped asphalt, which will look like brick work. They have also recently put in the curbing and traffic signal. In the coming weeks, they will be coordinating with Eversource to supply power to the roadway. Eversource has installed the gas line on Laurel Street and connected it to the roadway. This will also supply gas to the Bristol Hospital Building.”
Work begins to repair Route 1 in Stonington
Joe Wojtas
Stonington — Work began Wednesday to replace a section of Route 1 in town that was improperly paved this past spring, creating an uneven or washboard-like quality to the roadway.
While last summer’s work took several weeks to complete and created traffic backups, state Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Nursick said Wednesday that the current work will involve milling the asphalt and repaving and should be done within the week. He said the completion time is much shorter than the original project because that work involved much more preparation and hand work for catch basins and other items.
He said the same contractor who did the original project, American Industries of Jewett City, will be doing the repair work at no additional cost to the state.
DOT had waited to do the work until now so as not to further inconvenience drivers during the busy summer tourism season. There was alternating one-way traffic Wednesday morning along a section of Route 1 between North Water Street and Lord's Hill, as crews began milling the road. The revised traffic pattern only resulted in short delays for motorists.
Shortly after the $870,000 project was completed in June, drivers along the 2.6 miles of road from Broadway Extension to Route 1A noticed the uneven quality of the road in both directions.
Nursick, however, explained at the time that the poor ride quality was not due to the two seams that run down the middle of each lane, as they do not come in contact with the tires of cars and trucks. While such seams often are seen in the middle of the road, where the center line is painted, Nursick said the location of the seam depends on the width of the road.
In this case, he said the problem was the result of the surface condition of the pavement and its overall profile. He had said a DOT pavement analysis expert inspected the road and determined that the problem was related to how the pavement was installed by the contractor.
While the problem was more pronounced in certain areas, DOT required the entire road to be repaved.
Competitive Power Ventures hosts ceremony for new power plant in Oxford
OXFORD – Competitive Power Ventures executives and dignitaries dedicated its new 805 megawatt power plant in a ceremony held under a tent on Woodruff Hill Road on a chilly Wednesday afternoon.
The CPV Towantic Energy Center is a dual powered facility, running on natural gas with an “ultra-low-sulfur” diesel fuel back up. Original plans for the plant date back to 1997. After the project stalled, CPV took over in 2011 to see it through.
“We have a lot to celebrate,” Tom Rumsey, CPV’s senior vice president of external and regulatory affairs, said from the podium before close to 130 guests. “It’s a great day for CPV, the town and the region.”
“It’s a great milestone for this facility.” said Gary Lambert, chief executive officer of CPV. “We’re now operational. It’s been a tough, long road to get us to the point we’re at today.”
After the ceremony, guests took bus tours of the facility, which has been operational since the spring.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said one of the challenges of keeping businesses in Connecticut has been the high cost of energy. He said the Oxford plant can spur job growth by meeting the energy needs of companies like General Dynamics Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky.
Rob Klee, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the new Oxford plant has the lowest emissions per hour of all fossil fuel plants in Connecticut, allowing the closure of older and dirtier plants.
CPV touts it as “one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible electric generators in the world today.”
Lambert thanked Gemma Power Systems, which built the plant, and GE Power, which produced the turbines. He said more than 900 construction jobs were created to build the facility and there are 25 permanent, full-time, skilled jobs to operate it.
Colin M. Kelly, a CPV vice president in charge of the work site, touted the safety record and how everyone worked together harmoniously to complete the project on time and under budget.
The town of Oxford negotiated a $117 million tax agreement over 22 years and CPV is donating $50,000 a year for community support.
Andrew Bazinet, vice president of CPV and the lead developer for the project, called First Selectman George R. Temple a stalwart supporter. “He stuck with us through thick and thin,” Bazinet said. “Most people know George as someone who’s quick with a joke, but he’s a very tough negotiator who always kept his constituency in mind.”
Temple credited fellow selectmen and town boards for acting in the best interests of the town. He called CPV a good corporate citizen, recalling how it donated money toward the move into Oxford’s new library. He also said the company has met with neighbors to address concerns.
Paul Coward, of Traditions Court South, and Wayne McCormack of Oxford Greens, who were members of the group, Stop Towantic Power, are resigned to the fact the plant is here to stay.
“We have to live with it, I guess,” Coward said. “I’m sure there’s some advantageous features about the plant. It’s built and they’re trying to be a good neighbor, but what remains is it’s still a health problem.”
McCormack said those living closest to the plant complain about noise, though that has not been an issue for him. He said CPV has been nice, meeting with residents, answering calls and emails and even giving them a tour.
“We do have serious light complaints,” McCormack said. “They said they will do a light audit to reduce the number and intensity of the lights. It’s just like Times Square. It’s a huge light city, but they say they will address it. They’re meeting us again in early November.”
“The Bristol Hospital building is progressing on schedule,” said Rogozinski. “Construction crews are now working on the building exterior and façade. They are also putting in the lighting. They are aiming to complete the exterior before the winter to make the building winter-tight and then continue the work through the winter. That project is scheduled to complete in the spring.”
Rogozinski noted that construction crews working on this project have been relocated from the city parking lot to allow more parking for the public visiting businesses on Main Street. They are now parking on city property behind the building.
The Centre Square access road, a 1,000-foot road which begins at the intersection of North Main and Laurel Streets and cuts through Centre Square to Riverside Avenue, is now 90 percent complete said Rogozinski.
“Construction crews are still doing some streetscape work,” he said. “They are putting in stamped asphalt, which will look like brick work. They have also recently put in the curbing and traffic signal. In the coming weeks, they will be coordinating with Eversource to supply power to the roadway. Eversource has installed the gas line on Laurel Street and connected it to the roadway. This will also supply gas to the Bristol Hospital Building.”
Work begins to repair Route 1 in Stonington
Joe Wojtas
Stonington — Work began Wednesday to replace a section of Route 1 in town that was improperly paved this past spring, creating an uneven or washboard-like quality to the roadway.
While last summer’s work took several weeks to complete and created traffic backups, state Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Nursick said Wednesday that the current work will involve milling the asphalt and repaving and should be done within the week. He said the completion time is much shorter than the original project because that work involved much more preparation and hand work for catch basins and other items.
He said the same contractor who did the original project, American Industries of Jewett City, will be doing the repair work at no additional cost to the state.
DOT had waited to do the work until now so as not to further inconvenience drivers during the busy summer tourism season. There was alternating one-way traffic Wednesday morning along a section of Route 1 between North Water Street and Lord's Hill, as crews began milling the road. The revised traffic pattern only resulted in short delays for motorists.
Shortly after the $870,000 project was completed in June, drivers along the 2.6 miles of road from Broadway Extension to Route 1A noticed the uneven quality of the road in both directions.
Nursick, however, explained at the time that the poor ride quality was not due to the two seams that run down the middle of each lane, as they do not come in contact with the tires of cars and trucks. While such seams often are seen in the middle of the road, where the center line is painted, Nursick said the location of the seam depends on the width of the road.
In this case, he said the problem was the result of the surface condition of the pavement and its overall profile. He had said a DOT pavement analysis expert inspected the road and determined that the problem was related to how the pavement was installed by the contractor.
While the problem was more pronounced in certain areas, DOT required the entire road to be repaved.
Competitive Power Ventures hosts ceremony for new power plant in Oxford
OXFORD – Competitive Power Ventures executives and dignitaries dedicated its new 805 megawatt power plant in a ceremony held under a tent on Woodruff Hill Road on a chilly Wednesday afternoon.
The CPV Towantic Energy Center is a dual powered facility, running on natural gas with an “ultra-low-sulfur” diesel fuel back up. Original plans for the plant date back to 1997. After the project stalled, CPV took over in 2011 to see it through.
“We have a lot to celebrate,” Tom Rumsey, CPV’s senior vice president of external and regulatory affairs, said from the podium before close to 130 guests. “It’s a great day for CPV, the town and the region.”
“It’s a great milestone for this facility.” said Gary Lambert, chief executive officer of CPV. “We’re now operational. It’s been a tough, long road to get us to the point we’re at today.”
After the ceremony, guests took bus tours of the facility, which has been operational since the spring.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said one of the challenges of keeping businesses in Connecticut has been the high cost of energy. He said the Oxford plant can spur job growth by meeting the energy needs of companies like General Dynamics Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky.
CPV touts it as “one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible electric generators in the world today.”
Lambert thanked Gemma Power Systems, which built the plant, and GE Power, which produced the turbines. He said more than 900 construction jobs were created to build the facility and there are 25 permanent, full-time, skilled jobs to operate it.
Colin M. Kelly, a CPV vice president in charge of the work site, touted the safety record and how everyone worked together harmoniously to complete the project on time and under budget.
The town of Oxford negotiated a $117 million tax agreement over 22 years and CPV is donating $50,000 a year for community support.
Andrew Bazinet, vice president of CPV and the lead developer for the project, called First Selectman George R. Temple a stalwart supporter. “He stuck with us through thick and thin,” Bazinet said. “Most people know George as someone who’s quick with a joke, but he’s a very tough negotiator who always kept his constituency in mind.”
Temple credited fellow selectmen and town boards for acting in the best interests of the town. He called CPV a good corporate citizen, recalling how it donated money toward the move into Oxford’s new library. He also said the company has met with neighbors to address concerns.
Paul Coward, of Traditions Court South, and Wayne McCormack of Oxford Greens, who were members of the group, Stop Towantic Power, are resigned to the fact the plant is here to stay.
“We have to live with it, I guess,” Coward said. “I’m sure there’s some advantageous features about the plant. It’s built and they’re trying to be a good neighbor, but what remains is it’s still a health problem.”
McCormack said those living closest to the plant complain about noise, though that has not been an issue for him. He said CPV has been nice, meeting with residents, answering calls and emails and even giving them a tour.
“We do have serious light complaints,” McCormack said. “They said they will do a light audit to reduce the number and intensity of the lights. It’s just like Times Square. It’s a huge light city, but they say they will address it. They’re meeting us again in early November.”