First wind industry turbine towers arrive at New London’s State Pier
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Lee Howard
New London ― The cargo ship Trina arrived at Adm. Harold E. Shear State Pier from Denmark Wednesday morning, ready to offload 16 huge tower pieces that will be used to assemble Ørsted’s first four wind turbines.
The German ship is the third to arrive in the city related to the new wind industry that’s just ramping up here. Its arrival marks the first time that the 200-ton tower sections, each measuring 65 to 100 feet long, had been transported to the terminal.
The towers will be a major component of the turbine assembly to be overseen by Danish wind power company Ørsted that is expected to be in full swing within the next few months. The business is technically still a partnership between Ørsted and Eversouce Energy, though Eversource is in the process of selling its interest.
Huge cranes hoisted the towers off the cargo ship, and two to three dozen workers with the Local 1411 Longshoremen’s Association were on site to accomplish the task, which was expected to take two days.
“This is a historic moment not only for southeastern Connecticut and Connecticut but for the country,” said Ulysses Hammond, interim executive director for the Connecticut Port Authority, as he watched workers prepare to offload the cargo.
Prior to the offloading, workers had to wait for inspections of the ship by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Inspection personnel. Hammond said inspectors were checking to make sure there were no unauthorized people aboard and that the cargo matched the ship manifests.
Another ship with more turbine parts is expected in about three weeks, Hammond added.
“All of the assembly is going to take place right here,” Hammond said as he surveyed the 40-acre site. “Watching one of these get assembled is an amazing thing.”
State Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, who stopped by to see the offloading, marveled at the huge cranes dotting the State Pier site.
“It’s such a visual to have these size cranes here,” he said to Hammond. “These are some of the biggest cranes you’re ever going to see.”
Nolan admitted to some hesitancy about the $255 million project that has seen huge cost overruns, but said he is hopeful other uses for the terminal (such as a plan to send heavy-lift cargo from here to all over the world) will help offset the higher costs.
“I was trying to keep the faith, but every so often that faith was messed up by (asking for) more money,” Nolan said.
“People are talking about the project (costs), but not about the promise,” Hammond replied. “That’s what brought me here.”
Last month, the first wind components were offloaded from the Claude A. Desgagnes cargo ship; not long after, the Billie brought in similar components required to set up the State Pier site for wind turbine assembly.
While the Connecticut Port Authority had previously expected to greet the arrival of the first large wind turbine parts with a major event and speeches by dignitaries, Hammond said current plans are to celebrate in August or September.
That’s when the first completed towers are expected to be ready for installation at the South Fork Wind project 35 miles east of Montauk Point, serving East Hampton, N.Y.
Major West Hartford intersection overhaul to cost $5.6 million
Michael Walsh
WEST HARTFORD — State officials are planning changes to the Bishops Corner intersection at North Main Street and Albany Avenue, citing that the area is "unfavorable for pedestrian travel."
The proposal, which will be covered in detail at a July 13 virtual public meeting, would remove the channelized right turn lanes and the pedestrian medians that accompany them.
"The purpose of the project is to improve pedestrian mobility and overall operations at the intersection," reads a description of the project on the state Department of Transportation's website. "The deficiencies with current pedestrian facilities, undesirable geometry and traffic congestion make this area unfavorable for pedestrian travel."
After the removal of the channelized right turn lanes and the elimination of the islands, the state will relocate all pedestrian push buttons to the corners of the intersection. The state will also install new traffic signals and sidewalk ramps as part of the process.
"Relocating the pedestrian push buttons and eliminating the islands will allow pedestrians to cross directly from one side of the road to the other, providing the shortest crossing distance," the state's description of the project said.
The state's efforts to improve pedestrian safety in West Hartford comes as the town embarks on its own Vision Zero process to do the same. The town took the Vision Zero pledge in January after experiencing six roadway deaths — three of those being pedestrians who were struck by cars — in 2022. Vision Zero looks to eliminate all roadway fatalities and serious injuries within the next 10 years.
Town leaders and its Vision Zero task force are currently working with two consultants to devise an action plan by the end of this year that will guide roadway safety enhancements. The town is also working with another consultant to create a West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan that will guide changes to streets, sidewalks, intersections, bike lanes and more in the center of town.
The estimated cost of the Bishops Corner intersection overhaul is $5,585,050, the state said. The process also includes minor property acquisitions and easements to facilitate some of the sidewalk reconstruction and traffic signal equipment. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2025. Funding is expected to be made up of 80 percent federal funding and 20 percent state funding.
The July 13 meeting, which guests who wish to participate must register for, will include an open discussion about the project and feature a question and answer session at the end of the meeting. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
Showcase Cinema in East Hartford among area projects getting state bonding
Eric Bedner
A multi-million-dollar allocation for a housing project at the former Showcase Cinema site in East Hartford is set to be approved by the state Bond Commission, as is funding for Vernon, South Windsor, Windsor Locks, and other area towns.
Commission members are expected to approve the allocations at their meeting on Friday.
In June of 2018, the Bond Commission approved nearly $7 million for the redevelopment of property in the Silver Lane and Rentschler Field corridor in East Hartford.
If approved on Friday, that funding would be shifted to support the construction of new residential units at the former Showcase Cinema site.
East Hartford is also set to receive $6.5 million in grants for the abatement and demolition of buildings adjacent to the Founders Plaza on East River Drive.
A $72.5 million agenda item would provide grants for various development projects, including $750,000 in grants for the replacement of playscapes at East Hartford elementary schools, and about $1.6 million in grants to Vernon for the construction of sanitary sewers and a pump station in the surrounding area of Exits 66 and 67 off of Interstate 84 in Vernon.
As part of the same allocation, South Windsor would receive a $1.3 million grant to replace the centralized odor control system at its Water Pollution Control facility, and Tolland would get a $1 million grant for capital improvements to the Tolland Fire Department.
A total of $4.65 million for various Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection buildings is also on the table, $950,000 of which would go towards renovations and improvements to the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.
A $125,000 agenda item would reimburse three police departments for the purchase of body cameras, dash cameras, and video storage devices.
East Windsor would get about $16,500 and Vernon about $106,000.
Area prisons would also receive a portion of a total of $13.2 million for alterations, renovations, and improvements.
The Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers is slated to get $10 million for the first phase of door and window replacements, and the Robinson Correctional Institution in Enfield would receive $250,000 for heating replacements.
Friday's agenda also includes $30 million to reimburse towns for the cost of various projects, including roads, sidewalks, water or sewer lines, and public parks and housing, among others.
Commission members are also expected to approve $20 million to finance loans for first-time home buyers, $9 million for small business loans, and $30 million for the State Pier in New London.
Vacant parcels next to North Haven Amazon site sell for $6M; new development eyed
Hanna Snyder Gambini
Two vacant parcels in a prime development area of North Haven have been sold for a combined $6 million.
The properties at 405 and 417-425 Washington Ave., sit directly adjacent to the new Amazon fulfillment center, and are some of the last open parcels along the commercial stretch of Washington Avenue, Route 5.
The 9.1-acre parcel at 417-425 Washington Ave., sold for $4.25 million. The smaller 3.3-acre parcel at 405 Washington Ave., sold for $1.75 million.
Both properties were owned by CRA NH LLC, an affiliate of New York-based Rabina Properties and Maidad Rabina, to LGID NY LLC and principal Elchonon Shilian of Brooklyn, New York, in a deal recorded June 23.
Rabina also sold the 168-acre Amazon site when the fulfillment center was built in 2019. The sale of these two parcels mark the last property Rabina owns in the area, North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda said.
Frank Hird, a broker for Branford-based OR&L, which had the listing, said the two parcels are prime for development in the industrial zone, which allows for uses such as hotels, retail, and mixed use.
Shilian has not laid out any plans yet for the property, but Freda said he is working with the new owner to finalize development ideas.
“There will be something new and exciting there,” Freda said, adding that no apartments will be built on that site.
Development ideas include restaurants, commercial buildings and a hotel, he said.
The sale marks a major milestone in the economic development strategy Freda has been building for years, he said, and the sale came after years of demolishing buildings and site remediation preparing for the project.
“This is the culmination of four years worth of effort to try to bring this to this stage,” Freda said.
Any development plans will have to go through the land use application process.