The proposal is for a high-tech trash plant. For many CT residents that’s a hard ‘no’
Despite a company’s assurances about using only modern
technology, its proposed trash-processing plant in Connecticut hit
a wall of public opposition when residents recently voted 10-1 against
the idea.
The non-binding Plainfield referendum doesn’t stop the Smart
Technologies LLC proposal, because the state government — not the town —
has authority over it.
But the lopsided result shows that despite an extensive public outreach
campaign, Smart Technologies still faces a steep uphill battle to build
local support. Only 12% of the town voted, but gave the project a
resounding defeat: 1,148 to just 125.
Smart Technologies held a heavily attended public meeting
last month where the overwhelming majority of the audience appeared to oppose
the project. The company has promised jobs, new tax revenue and tighter control
over rising trash-disposal costs, but homeowners say they fear pollution,
health risks, traffic and damage to property values.
The company wants to build an unconventional trash-to-energy
plant on about 81 acres near Route 12 and Route 14. Unlike typical
trash-burning incinerators, this facility would employ “gasification” — a
process of break down garbage into gases, which would power a turbine and
generate electricity for the power grid.
Smart Technologies contends the system doesn’t generate the
smoke and ash associated with trash incinerators, and wouldn’t be an
environmental hazard.
The company, a partnership of O & G Industries and
Advanced Waste Technologies International, contends its system can
separate hazardous materials as well as recyclable metal and glass from a
stream of municipal trash. It directs organic material to an anaerobic digester
that produces a biogas capable of being converted into natural gas, and can
separately process methane and carbon dioxide to prevent pollution.
So far, homeowners
haven’t been swayed.
“We, the local residents, are deeply distressed by the
proposed construction and operation of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
management, recycling and power generation complex near Norwich Road and Black
Hill Road in Plainfield,” reads
an online petition started in April.
“This matter is of personal concern because it significantly
threatens our environment, health, and overall prosperity of our town,” it
concludes, urging people to contact Gov. Ned Lamont and local legislators.
About 750 people have signed the petition, according
to change.org.
At its public information meeting, the company maintained
Plainfield could gain a lot if the state Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection approves permits for the project.
“We have married a number of technologies together. This is
a unique system,” said William Corvo, the project manager.
“There are special benefits which apply specifically to
Plainfield. Those benefits include reduction of local taxes,” Corvo said. “This
is a sizeable project. It will be able to provide, once completed, several
million dollars per year in new tax revenue.
“It’s not going to be the biggest employer in the town, but
this facility will provide a minimum of 160 long-term jobs,” he added.
Corvo promised the company would listen to residents’
objections.
“We will take them seriously. What you have to say is
important to us and we’ll react positively and try to make our project better
at every step along the way with less negative impact if possible,” he said.
The referendum, however, indicates opposition remains
strong. In an unusual joint letter, the town’s Republican and Democratic
committees recently opposed the project.
“The reality of over 100 garbage trucks traveling daily
between 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. through peaceful neighborhoods would be profoundly
disruptive,” they wrote. “Furthermore, this pristine area is home to
diverse wildlife, including a bald eagle nesting site, and faces significant
risks of pollution to valuable underground water sources.”
How $2 million in public funding could help a CT site needed for future major development
A key piece of funding
needed for tearing down a blighted, vacant Connecticut structure
appears poised to fall into place.
It’s near Dunkin’ Park,
part of the city of Hartford’s plan to build an applied artificial intelligence
center and other development on the property.
A committee of the Capital
Region Development Authority recently backed a request from the city
to transfer $2 million in city funds managed by CRDA to the demolition of the
deteriorating, former data processing center on Windsor Street. The full CRDA
board must still approve the transfer from a stalled, mixed-use development in
Parkville, but typically committee approval leads to backing by the full board.
The city expects a $6 million state grant to largely cover
the estimated, $9.4 million cost of knocking down the former bank procession
center at 150 Windsor St. The city has another $1.4 million set aside for the
demolition.
The bunker-like structure is a clearly visible, familiar
site to those attending Dunkin’ Park, the city’s minor league ballpark.
Derek Peterson, CRDA’s senior underwriter, told the housing
and neighborhood development committee that the $29
million Parkville development — 57 apartments and a 400-space garage —
had run into trouble pulling together financing. The CRDA funding was approved
in 2023.
“Two years later. I’d say, these projects have moved away
from us,” Peterson said. “Unfortunately, in terms of budgets and borrowing
costs, as well as other city projects presenting themselves as ready to go, and
public financing is needed. And that includes the demolition of the data center
at 150 Windsor St.”
Peterson said, “the idea is really to make way for other
economic development projects as that building comes down.”
The developer of the apartments and parking garage at 17 and
35 Bartholomew Ave., Carlos Mouta, told The Courant that the project is essential
to future growth in Parkville because it will provide sorely needed
parking, already at a premium in the neighborhood. But Mouta said he understood
the need for pulling the funding for the downtown project, as long as it become
available again in the future for the development in Parkville, given the need
for parking.
In addition, Mouta is trying to close a financing gap for a
much, $90 million conversion of a former factory at the corner of Bartholomew
Avenue and Hamilton Street into apartments.
The city’s request to CRDA would unwind financing approvals
totaling $8.2 million for the housing and parking garage projects at 17 and 35
Bartholomew Ave., a combination of city and CRDA funds. After taking out the $2
million to tear down the Windsor Street structure, the balance would be used
for future projects, according to a proposal that will now be considered by the
full board.
The demolition of 150 Windsor Street would clear the way for
the artificial intelligence center, if the city is chosen for up to $50 million
from the state’s “Innovation
Clusters” program. Hartford is one of three anchor cities that are
finalists for the funding.
The $100 million program is aimed at strengthening
Connecticut’s economy through innovation, partnering with the private sector to
building employment, boost vibrancy and develop ecosystems that are seen as
essential to future economic development.
The Windsor Street processing center site has always been
considered as part of the larger, North Crossing redevelopment
around Dunkin’s Park. North Crossing’s developer has shown support for the AI
center, perhaps adding a boutique hotel to diversify beyond the hundreds of
apartments built or are now under construction in the area.
In addition to Hartford, New Haven and Stamford also are
finalists. A decision from the state on the Innovation Clusters funding is
expected early this summer.
Waterbury secures $4M 'meat and potatoes' state grant to upgrade West Main Street utilities
WATERBURY — The state government is serving up what Gov. Ned
Lamont described Monday as a $4 million "meat and potatoes" grant to
replace aging underground utility infrastructure along West Main Street
that dates back to the late 1890s.
The state funding will enable construction crews to upgrade
or replaced approximately 4,440 linear feet water, sanitary, sewer, and storm
drainage lines as part of a wider $28.9 million project to redevelop West
Main Street between Riverside Street and the Waterbury Green in the heart of
downtown.
The State Bond Commission in April approved the $4 million
allocation that the Community
Investment Fund Board approved a month earlier for funding the third
phase on the ongoing project to transform the streetscape along West Main
Street.
Lamont highlighted the grant during a news conference Monday
outside the West Main Street offices of the state Department of Children and
Families. Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr., Waterbury state Reps. Ron Napoli Jr.
and Geraldo C. Reyes Jr. and Alderman Ruben Rodriguez, the Republican minority
leader of the Board of Alderman, joined the governor to celebrate the funding.
Pernerewski said the West Main Street project represents a
crucial step toward revitalizing the downtown district, enhancing
infrastructure, spurring commercial and housing growth and attracting private
investment in Waterbury.
"It is a transformational investment in one of the most
vital corridors in our city," he said.
In addition to improving the city's appearance, Pernerewski
said the project will also make West Main Street more accessible and safer.
Lamont said replacing water and sewer lines is not an
exceptionally exciting project, but the aging underground infrastructure
dating back to the late 19th Century that this $4 million in state funding
will replace is holding back development. He called it a down payment on a
new foundation for Waterbury's future.
"This is sort of the meat and potatoes of what we do,”
Lamont said. “This is how you keep a city like this vibrant and growing. This
is not only going to clean it up, but it also expands capacity."
West Main Street is a short but much-used corridor that
connects downtown Waterbury with parts of the city that are on the west
side of the Naugatuck River, but its condition and design present challenges
for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, according to planning
documents.
Once the state-funded underground utility work is
completed, Pernerewski said the city will tap some of a $23.1 million
federal RAISE grant to support other vital components of the West Main Street
makeover. The Federal Highway Administration approved the city's grant in 2022.
The Waterbury Development Corp. and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
assisted the city in applying for the RAISE grant, including $9.8 million
requested for the West Main Street project.
The biggest component of the West Main project is reducing
the number of travel lanes on West Main Street to one through lane of traffic
in each direction and making the road a uniform width. Other design features
include a bus stop pull-off, a bicycle shared lane from Riverside Street to the
railroad bridge, a green strip on the south side of West Main Street
between Thomaston Avenue and the railroad bridge.
The Board of Aldermen voted last month to authorize the
Waterbury Development Corp. to apply to the state Department of Economic and
Community Development for another $4 million grant from the Community
Investment Fund to support the third phase of the West Main Street project.
The WDC originally applied for an $8 million grant for
the West Main Street project in the sixth round of CIF funding, but only was
approved for $4 million. The application window for for the seventh round of
grants closed Friday. Up $875 million will be distributed to eligible
municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and community development
corporations.
Established in 2021, CIF is state bond-funded program
for financing qualifying economic and community development projects. To
date, Deputy DECD Commissioner Matt Pugliese said Waterbury has received
nearly $25 million in CIF funds. Overall, he reported more than $500 million in
grants have been awarded to support 171 projects across the state.
Pernerewski said before the Board of Aldermen later this
month to seek approval for an $18 million bond authorization for the West Main
Street project.
$138M project targets ‘deficiencies’ in I-84 bridges near Danbury Fair mall: What we know
DANBURY — The state plans to replace the superstructures of
two Interstate 84 bridges
near the Danbury
Fair mall as soon as 2029 as part of a $138 million upgrade of the
highway from the New York border to Exit
4.
“The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the existing
pavement on I-84, upgrade roadside safety equipment and address deficiencies
identified for bridge(s) on … I-84 westbound and eastbound, respectively, over
Conrail (tracks),” says a project description from the state Department of
Transportation’s 2025-2029 Transportation Infrastructure Capital
Plan.
The bridges in question at eastbound Exit 3 carry a daily
average of 81,000 eastbound motorists and an average of 40,000 westbound
motorists, according to the DOT’s latest publicly available traffic
data. Moreover, the bridges are in one of the most problematic sections of
I-84 in Danbury,
where daily rush-hour backups are the norm.
What is the DOT doing to ensure construction won’t
exacerbate everyday backups and chronic delays?
The project is still in design, so work restrictions have
not yet been developed, a DOT spokesman told CT Insider on Monday.
“However, it is typical to schedule work on interstate
projects during off-peak hours, while requiring all travel lanes remain open
during peak periods,” said Josh Morgan, the DOT’s communications director. “It
is anticipated that much of the work will be completed at night, and the
contractor will be restricted to when lane closures will be allowed.”
“For example, I-84 in this area has three travel lanes in
each direction, and the contractor will likely be required to maintain all
three travel lanes during the a.m. and p.m. peak periods, and only be allowed
to close lanes temporarily when traffic volumes are low enough to facilitate
the reductions,” Morgan said.
The DOT official is referring to a section of highway at
Exit 3 that backs up not only due to volume but also due
to design. A left exit ramp from westbound I-84 causes motorists to slow
and weave to take Exit 3 south to the mall, for example.
Left exit ramps and other design flaws are the target of a
larger, long-term project called I-84
Danbury to widen and straighten the highway from exits 1 through 8.
The ambitious project, with a price tag of $3 billion to $4 billion, is not
expected to begin construction for at least a decade, and it is not expected to
be complete until the mid- to late 2040s.
“The two projects are unrelated, however coordination was
undertaken with the I-84 Danbury team,” Morgan said. “We’ve determined that the
work proposed under this project is not in conflict with any of the work
planned under the larger I-84 Danbury project.”
An open-house style meeting to give residents and city
officials an update on larger I-84 Danbury plans is scheduled from 5 to 7
p.m. June 26 at Western Connecticut State University’s Student Center, Room
202, 181 White St.
Meanwhile, the state is wrapping up a short-term resurfacing project on
I-84, while planning for the bridge deck replacement and related upgrades
continues.
The federal government is expected to pick up $125 million
for the project, or 90% of the price tag.
“Pavement rehabilitation is required to restore it to a
state of good repair. The existing guiderail, median barriers and overall
roadside safety conditions throughout the project limits are proposed to be
upgraded to meet current standards as part of this project,” says the project
narrative. (T)he superstructures for bridge numbers 01181 and 01182 will be
replaced as part of this project.”
CT lawmakers approve $74M for new Bridgeport special education center, $5 million to run district
Richard
Chumney, Brian
Lockhart
BRIDGEPORT — The cash-strapped city school system is set to
get a financial boost after state lawmakers voted to set aside nearly $80
million to help build a new special
education school and run the district.
But the money for the latter comes with some strings
attached.
The Connecticut General Assembly approved a bond
bill last week that includes up to $74 million for the construction of
the new school in the North End. Lawmakers also provided about $5 million more
for district expenses. However, the state's top education official,
Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, will control the money.
That $5 million infusion comes after district officials
pleaded with lawmakers to increase education funding in the face of a more than
$30 million deficit that has led to deep
staffing and program cuts, including the elimination of several teaching
jobs and bus transportation for about 2,400 students.
In a unique situation, to obtain the $5 million, the bill
includes language requiring Mayor Joe Ganim to submit a report to the gubernatorially
appointed Municipal Finance Advisory Commission outlining
"corrective actions" to ensure the city will not require future
financial assistance.
The legislation also gives Russell-Tucker, who is already
overseeing the city school system amid the massive budget shortfall, the
authority to determine how that additional funding will be used.
“We’re grateful to the legislative delegation for securing
resources for Commissioner Russell-Tucker as she assists the BOE in making
necessary improvements,” said Tom Gaudett, Bridgeport's chief
administrative officer. “Over the coming months, the mayor and the
superintendent will be working on a plan … with concrete steps to improve
the BOE’s financial and operational situation going forward.”
Ganim will have until Sept. 1 to submit the corrective
action plan and until the end of the year to appear before the commission to
present the report. According to the bill, the plan must include adjustments to
fiscal policies, ways to maximize federal funding and the identification of
“efficiencies in the provision of services.”
As part of the state budget, lawmakers also set aside an
additional $11 million in Education Cost Sharing grant funds over the current
allocation, about $2.6 million for special education and around $168,000 for
adult education.
Acting Bridgeport Superintendent Royce Avery, who has helmed
the school system since last fall, and Board Chair Jennifer Perez, who has been
charged with leading the board as it navigates the budget cuts, did not return
requests for comment.
State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, said the
stipulation requiring a corrective action plan was included because of
questions about the city's education spending. The Bridgeport City Council and
Ganim recently allocated an additional $4 million to the Board of Education in
the just concluded spring municipal budget process.
But Stafstrom cited an analysis by the School and State
Finance Project that shows that Bridgeport only spends about $3,398 per
student, while Hartford spends $3,880, Waterbury spends $4,988 and New
Haven spends $5,522.
“Yes, we need to deal with the current funding shortfall in
the district, but frankly, the city needs to step up and do more as well,”
Stafstrom said. “I’m beyond frustrated that the city only contributed an
additional $4 million this year and essentially looked at the state to fill the
rest of the deficit considering that noticeable gap in municipal contribution
to education.”
State Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport, said he
believes the school system’s budget shortfall is at least partially
self-inflicted through poor decisions that occurred before Avery's tenure. He
said the city’s legislative delegation was able to secure the additional money
by working in unison.
“We really were rowing in the same direction and made it
really happen when times looked very dire,” Rosario said. “Critics will say
it’s still not enough. It’s never enough. … If it’s not going to be run
efficiently, it’s not going to matter.”
The district’s shaky financial health has prompted the city
school board to eliminate nearly two dozen teaching jobs, all of the district’s
librarians, several administrative roles, various other positions and a popular
performing arts program.
The board is now exploring restoring
some of those positions and programs after the City Council provided about $1
million in additional funding over Ganim’s budget proposal. It is not yet clear
if the extra $5 million in state money will also be available to reverse any of
the prior cuts.
The State Board of Education voted
earlier this year to give Russell-Tucker “sweeping powers” to help
turn around the struggling city school system, including the ability to appoint
a technical assistance team.
Russell-Tucker has also used the authority to require training
sessions for the city board and launch
an audit of district finances. She also intends to reserve the right
to approve the hiring of the next superintendent.
Joseph Sokolovic, vice chair of the city board, said he
appreciates any extra state funding the district can get its hand on but argued
the allocation is simply not enough. He also expressed concern that the
requirements involving the corrective action plan could present barriers to
obtaining the money.
“The budget is insufficient for the needs of Bridgeport
Public Schools,” he said. “It falls far short of what's needed. We’ve still got
to go ahead with the drastic cuts.”
The funding for the special education school will allow the
district to construct an up to $78 million building in the North End that will
be used to educate some special education students currently sent out of the
district for their education, saving millions in tuition costs.
District officials have said the special education center
could serve more than 260 K-12 special education students and would replace the
aging Bridgeport Learning Center. Officials have said the district spent $22
million last year sending students to private facilities.
“If we don't build the programs in-house, we can't bring
kids in-house,” Avery, the acting superintendent, said last month. “The reason
why they went out of district placements is because we could not serve them in
district.”
Officials have said the planned center could be built on the
site of the Skane School on Madison Avenue. The district is currently in the
process of merging Skane with the nearby John Winthrop School as part of a
renovation of the 72-year-old building, freeing up the site.
“There’s a recognition by the legislature that special
education costs are squeezing out the budgets for boards of education around
the state,” Stafstrom said. “Bridgeport’s problem is particularly acute because
they're busing so many kids out of district for special education services,
which is why the state is willing to make the investment in the new special
education school. The hope is with a dedicated school in the city it will allow
for more predictable costs and efficiencies.”
Supporters say Bridgeport soccer stadium alive, team to play in 2026
BRIDGEPORT — Introducing Gov. Ned Lamont to the crowd
gathered on the harborside terrace of Boca restaurant late Friday morning,
state Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport, praised his fellow Democrat's
support for Connecticut's largest municipality.
"There's no better partner for the City of
Bridgeport," Rosario said as the governor looked on.
But Lamont recently displayed he has his limits. The 2025
legislative session ended
last week without a financial commitment from his administration for up to $127
million in desired state aid to help construct a soccer stadium,
housing and hotel. The land in question is located just across Stratford Avenue
from Boca at the shuttered Shoreline Star off-track betting
site.
"It's a pretty big ask," the governor acknowledged
in a brief interview following Friday's event, an unrelated ceremonial signing
of a bill
establishing the Connecticut/Puerto Rico Trade Commission.
But for Rosario and other proponents of entrepreneur Andre
Swanston's minor league sports venue, the session was not a failure. Lawmakers
passed a proposal allowing officials in Bridgeport to
establish a tax incremental financing (TIF) district at the stadium site
to help pay for up to $190 million of the purportedly $1.1 billion
redevelopment. That means a portion of any new real estate taxes generated
by the project would pay off the debt rather than going directly into
Bridgeport's municipal coffers.
And in lieu of actual state financial aid, the legislature
also adopted language requiring Connecticut's departments of Economic
Development and Revenue Services to,
by Oct. 1, assess the "anticipated economic impact" of the stadium.
More specifically, those agencies must determine "when it is reasonably
likely that the state may receive a return on a $127 million state ...
investment, taking into consideration revenue generated ... via payroll taxes,
sales and use taxes and other revenue sources."
"Had I gotten out of session and gotten none of those
then I would tell you this was a whimper," Rosario said. The Lamont
administration "could have said no on the study language, no on the
TIF; 'Forget about it and what else you want to work on.' And they didn't
do that."
Another local lawmaker, state Rep. Steve Stafstrom,
D-Bridgeport, argued the economic study should not be characterized as a
"consolation prize."
"Oftentimes, in the legislative process it takes a few
years to gain the necessary momentum to get something done," he said.
"Having the economic development department formally weigh in and give us
genuine feedback could give some real momentum to the project moving forward.
... I tend to think using $100 million in state funding to unlock a billion
dollar development project in Bridgeport is sort of a no-brainer. But I
think we'll know for sure once we see the report."
Still, not securing the $127 million is a setback.
Swanston went
public with his grand plan for Bridgeport's lower East Side in the fall of 2023,
announced his minor league team — Connecticut
United — in January 2024 and had initially hoped it would be playing by now.
Meanwhile, in February, Swanston's Connecticut Sports
Group released
its report commissioned from the Center for Economic Analysis at the University
of Connecticut. That document takes into consideration the minor league
stadium, 1,005 apartments, a 260-room hotel and a minimum 68,000 square feet of
restaurant and retail space. It also looks at the future best-case scenario of
erecting a major league venue should Connecticut United prove successful.
That report claims the minor league facility alone will have
a $2.2 billion economic impact and create hundreds of new jobs.
In a statement for this article, Connecticut Sports Group
thanked Bridgeport legislators and the General Assembly for backing the TIF
bill and the state's economic impact analysis.
"Allowing Governor Lamont and other key decision-makers
time to review the full range of data and analysis of the economic impact
of these projects is critical to Connecticut's future," the organization
said. "We look forward to continuing our work with the city, state and
community partners to bring this bold vision to life."
Lamont has previously voiced enthusiasm for Swanston's
effort but
also indicated he wants to leave much of the investing to the private sector.
He reiterated those sentiments Friday, arguing he sees his role more as
ensuring "the table is set" for private capital.
Technically, the state is already doing some of that for
Swanston. While the $127 million ask fizzled out this legislative session, last
year Connecticut set aside a total of $16 million to help cleanup any
contaminated soil on the construction site and to create public access to the
waterfront. The old Shoreline Star sits along the Pequonnock River, and state
officials have previously
noted that the $16 million worth of work will be well spent improving the
property regardless of whether the soccer venue or another
redevelopment occurs there.
Lamont recently pumped more dollars into another major
Bridgeport revitalization. Across the harbor from Boca, the retired
coal-fired power plant is
being prepped by its new owner for demolition later this year, with $22.5
million in state aid helping pay for the tear down to make way for housing and
public waterfront access.
As for Connecticut United debuting next year without a home
field, Connecticut Sports Group did not respond to questions about the status
of the team's inaugural 2026 season. However, it does not appear to be in doubt
that Connecticut United will be competing somewhere nearby come spring.
In
a statement in February, the organization emphasized, "We are excited
for Connecticut United's debut in 2026, which is not contingent on the
stadium's completion by the start of the season."
Thomas Gaudett, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim's
chief-of-staff, said, "We've been told, as we make preparations for the
construction of a stadium, they will be playing in Connecticut, likely
somewhere close to Bridgeport, to establish their fan base and get things off
the ground."
Rosario confirmed, "Even as early as a month ago, two
months ago, they were prepared if they had to play elsewhere ... to do that
while we went through our process."
Bridgeport Regional Business Council President Dan Onofrio
said there has been an effort to locate a temporary home for the team at
"regional venues like the universities."
"You have to keep moving forward and deal with the
cards you're dealt with," Onofrio said. "That will just raise more
interest. Hopefully, they sell out wherever they're playing. ... And people
will see the product kind of taking shape and truly becoming Connecticut's
team."
Rosario knows full well that for every successful
redevelopment in Bridgeport there are a few that never broke ground. He said
Swanston appreciated Bridgeport legislators' support during the session and
indicated to them he is far from giving up.
"He thanked me. He thanked the team (of lawmakers) for
fighting hard and not quitting," Rosario said. "He's not quitting as
well. He's motivated to fight even harder. ... This is nothing new to me.
I understand Bridgeport. We're the underdog, and I love to prove people
wrong."
Private project abandonments hit record highs
Private developers scrapped more projects in May than in any
other month on record, according to the latest data from Cincinnati-based
ConstructConnect.
The Project Stress Index, a measure of construction projects
that have been paused, abandoned or have a delayed bid date, increased
11.4% in May. That figure puts project stress 22.8% above 2021
baseline levels, said Devin Bell, associate economist at ConstructConnect.
“Abandonment activity has continued to rise, reaching its
highest reading in over a year,” said Bell. “While public sector abandonment
activity remains within historic levels, private sector abandonments have
reached multi-year highs.”
Bell pointed to high interest rates and shifting
market conditions as key factors reducing project viability. He said
those pressures continue to erode developer confidence.
A 30.3% spike in overall project abandonments caused the
surge in stress in May, according to the report. In contrast, delayed bids
dropped 1.9% and on-hold activity remained essentially flat.
Since the end of 2024, abandonment activity has climbed
66.5%, while bid delays have increased 4.3% and on-hold activity has dropped
18.5%, according to the report.
For example, clean energy manufacturers canceled, closed or
downsized about $8
billion in projects in the first quarter of 2025. That includes the
cancellations of a $1.2
billion plant in Arizona and a $2.6
billion battery factory in Georgia.
For the month, private
sector struggles stood out sharply, said Bell. Private abandonments
increased 62.6% over the month, and are now up 92.2% year over year. That surge
has led to the highest level of abandonments since ConstructConnect began
tracking data in mid-2019.
Meanwhile, private projects placed on hold increased 23.1%
over the past 12 months, according to the report.
Public projects moved in the opposite direction over the last year. Abandonments on public works remained flat, while public projects put on hold fell 15.2%, according to the report.
Infrastructure is a solid bet: Ferrovial exec
Even as federal
infrastructure dollars have become more uncertain in the U.S., the
private sector can step in to help close the public funding gap.
That’s according to Silvia Ruiz, global head of investor
relations at Amsterdam-headquartered civil engineering firm Ferrovial, who
noted that urbanization and population growth are driving the need for
transportation, data centers and energy projects, making infrastructure an
attractive sector for investors.
“From express lanes to smart cities, infrastructure demand
is soaring,” Ruiz told Construction Dive.
Indeed, infrastructure
is a hot item for the likes of New York City-headquartered investment
manager BlackRock, according to Infrastructure Investor. In addition, last
month, Barings, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based unit of Massachusetts
Mutual Life Insurance, collected $950 million for its private
equity and infrastructure fund for high-growth energy, digital
infrastructure and transportation assets, The Wall Street Journal
reported.
Here, Ruiz talks with Construction Dive about private
infrastructure funding, global trends and which sectors are set to be hot in
the coming years.
The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.
CONSTRUCTION DIVE: What kinds of infrastructure investment
trends are you seeing right now?
SILVIA RUIZ: We believe infrastructure is an attractive
sector from an investment point of view — stable, inflation-resistant and
fueled by state spending. Through public-private partnerships, the private
sector helps close the funding gap, ensuring industry stability.
Consumers interact with major infrastructure daily by
driving on highways, passing through airports and witnessing firsthand the
surge in travel and tourism. By investing in what they know and use, investors
can develop a deeper understanding of how the industry grows over time, like
with population influxes to growing cities.
Overall, as cities, communities and businesses grow across
the U.S., the need for infrastructure projects and improvements increases. For
example, we’re seeing continued growth in highways and airports, driven by
cities’ needs to alleviate congestion and airport modernization efforts as
populations grow. The necessity of infrastructure creates a steady demand for
investments.
What do you expect from the Trump administration in regard
to infrastructure investment?
We remain bullish on the infrastructure sector. The
long-term need for modern, resilient infrastructure in the U.S. remains
unchanged as the industry supports community growth in America’s expanding
cities.
Ferrovial has a track record of financing, designing,
building, operating and maintaining large-scale infrastructure across
industries. We work proactively to maintain compliance, minimize risks and
ensure that our projects contribute to shared objectives such as improving
transportation, fostering economic growth and enhancing safety.
Since we invest equity in developing these projects, public
funds can be allocated to address other local needs.
What infrastructure sectors do you expect to grow in the
coming five to 10 years?
We expect to see strong growth in transportation, data
centers and energy. Developing efficient highways and modernizing aging
airports will continue to be essential.
We’re optimistic that public-private collaboration will
continue to be a growing trend as demand increases and budgets are limited, and
the private sector can help to close that gap. We’ve also seen energy demand
rise exponentially to help power AI processing through data centers and expect
continued growth to help power technology demand increase.
Globally, infrastructure investments are increasing
particularly in rail, energy and digital infrastructure sectors, driven by the
trend of more people moving to fast-growing cities.
How has the infrastructure sector fared when facing
headwinds?
Infrastructure, particularly for the highway and airport
sectors, has rebounded significantly following COVID-19 with most nations
reporting travel figures higher than pre-pandemic numbers in 2024, showing the
industry’s resilience.
In the first quarter of this year, Ferrovial’s highways
division delivered 14.1% year-over-year revenue growth. Notably, 407 Express
Toll Route in Canada delivered double-digit EBITDA growth despite adverse
weather conditions.
These mobility solutions are essential assets, indicating
just how resilient infrastructure is as an investment due to its continuous
operation. And the need for these projects only increases to meet growing
community demands.
What megatrends do you think will shape infrastructure
investment in the coming year?
First and foremost, population influxes to cities and
increases in travel due to that movement continually drive infrastructure
investment. Public-private partnerships continue to be a successful focus in
delivering essential transportation needs, from efficient highways to
modernizing airports.
We’re tracking the rise in energy demand alongside the
growth of data centers and sustainable AI cloud solutions. While our current
investment is modest, we’ve established new divisions to explore the
opportunity. For now, our primary focus remains on U.S. express lanes.
Ultimately, the future of infrastructure lies in how well we
adapt to new technologies, to global challenges and to the evolving needs of
the communities we serve. We see that as both a responsibility and an
opportunity.