Retaining Walls, Earthwork Enable DOT to Raise Section of I-95 in Conn.
Interstate 95 runs through the southern section of
Connecticut, often within sight of Long Island Sound. This important freeway
connects New York City and its vital commerce with Boston in the north and the
rest of New England.
In East Lyme, the Connecticut Department of Transportation
(CTDOT) has undertaken a major construction project at Exit 74 where the
interstate travels over Route 161. The project will improve sightlines, make
the road safer for travelers and ease congestion.
CTDOT plans to have the project completed by 2027 at the
cost of nearly $150 million. By the completion of the project, I-95 northbound
and southbound will have a new look. The northbound and southbound lanes will
be raised approximately 14 ft. from their original position on the west side of
Route 161 and cut approximately 10 ft. on the east side.
Contractors are achieving these changes through the
construction of temporary earth retaining systems (TERS). Andrew M.
Millovitsch, project engineer, is overseeing the project for CTDOT. To create
the 16 retaining walls necessary for the project, workers needed to pulverize a
massive ledge with explosives. Each blast required a full closure of I-95.
Manafort Brothers was the general contractor for the project and worked closely
with additional contractors on the job.
The blasts enabled workers to remove 60,000 cu. yds. of
material to make way for a new retaining wall adjacent to I-95 northbound. The
construction team experienced a major setback when a soil nail wall failed to
hold, costing the team two months. The team accelerated the work for five
months to bring the project back on schedule. The project is now 50 percent
complete.
The contractor is building extended lanes for both
acceleration and deceleration for the interchange ramps. The team also is
constructing a 6-ft. raised median and 12-ft. shoulders for both north and
southbound traffic.
"We have had some existing soil conditions that have
proved challenging," said Millovitsch. "The newly constructed roadway
will provide safe areas in the median to handle breakdowns. Drivers will have
better sightlines to view the traffic they are driving in and have flatter
slopes to improve stopping distances. Also, the new overpass will allow for
safer clearance for motorists on Route 161."
As the 2025 construction season opens, workers will shift
traffic onto the recently constructed travel lanes and over Route 161. An
additional TERS will be constructed closer to the southbound traffic.
"At that time, the northbound traffic will be brought
to final grade and the next third of the bridge construction can take place
between the north and southbound lanes," said Millovitsch.
Having a Blast
Blasting proved exciting not only for the construction team
and onlookers but also had many practical benefits. A major obstacle was
removed, and the remains from the blast were crushed and used for subbase for
the road and for fill as part of the embankments. Both steel and asphalt were
recycled as well. The project worked with environmental specialists to
reestablish plantings and improve nearby wetlands, floodplains and streambeds.
The team plans to use approximately 80,000 tons of asphalt
for the roads and 10,000 cu. yds. of concrete for precast items including
drainage structures and retaining walls, as well as cast-in-place elements for
the new Bridge No. 00250.
The construction team used a traditional fleet of equipment
for the job including excavators, front loaders, cranes, paving machines and
rollers. Construction teams are increasingly using technology to complete the
jobs with greater precision and speed. The technology used for this job
included 3D modeling, drone-assisted GPS survey equipment, geo-located software
and "open road designer" to assist with placement of proper
quantities of material.
CTDOT and contractors were careful to maintain safety both
for workers and motorists. Because the work was done in stages, safety
specialists were able to delineate work zones and keep the construction
activity behind temporary barriers. The work team also used speed camera
vehicles to slow down traffic and keep the work zone protected.
The I-95 East Lyme project has been both satisfying and
challenging for Millovitsch and his team.
"The vertical realignment of I-95 was a complex
challenge," he said. "This work has allowed us to improve the safety
of a historically substandard piece of road. It has also been an area that is
accident prone. We hope that will be improved as well." CEG.
Belimo withdraws $10M expansion plans at its Danbury headquarters to ‘evaluate alternative options’
DANBURY – A multinational
electrical equipment manufacturer that made headlines
in February with $10 million plans to expand its westside headquarters
has withdrawn its application to a city land use commission in order to
redesign the blueprints.
“After further assessment, we have concluded that additional
production capacity which would be made available from a plant expansion to the
west will not be sufficient for our needs,” said James Furlong, president of
Belimo Americas, in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media Group.
“Accordingly, we have withdrawn our application related to a westward expansion
and have begun to evaluate alternative options.”
The westward expansion Furlong mentioned refers to the
western side of the company’s plant on Turner Road, which sits on the New York
border. Questions were raised during a public hearing about whether the
company had
enough setback space so as not to negatively impact its next-door
neighbor in New York.
The 200,000-square-foot
Danbury plant, which Belimo built on 34 hilltop acres in 2014, serves as
the headquarters for its operations in Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin
America and the United States.
Whether the Switzerland-based
company comes back with an expansion plan similar to the
33,000-square-foot warehouse addition Belimo proposed in February remains to be
seen.
Belimo did not provide further details about its search for
an alternative expansion site in its statement to HCMG. Nor did the company
mention the border
dispute that arose during a February public hearing.
As far as Danbury City Hall is
concerned, leaders say they “fully expect” Belimo to reapply for expansion
permission.
“Belimo is committed to ensuring that their expansion here
in Danbury lays the foundation for long-term success and accommodates all their
needs,” said Farly Santos, Mayor Roberto Alves’ economic and community
development adviser. “Mayor Alves and his administration stand ready to support
their growth, fostering continued prosperity for both Belimo and our
community.”
A leading City Council member agreed.
“Belimo is a large multinational organization,” said Paul
Rotello. “I can’t imagine a relatively minor (border dispute) issue is to going
to derail them. I hope the parties reach an accommodation.”
Peter Olson, a Bethel land use attorney who represents the
New York landowner, said he had no comment on Belimo’s withdrawal.
Withdrawals by a developer often signal the end of
investment plans. Sometimes the withdrawals are accompanied by specific reasons
and sometimes not. Other times, as in Belimo’s case, withdrawals signal a
developer’s need to adjust plans.
Belimo’s withdrawal is the latest in a series of recent
decisions by developers to drop their applications in Danbury.
In July, an investor withdrew
$10 million plans to build a regional car leasing hub on Backus Avenue
after its attorney warned city land use leaders that they were being
“anti-business” in their review of a requested zone change.
In 2023, a Danbury-based development company pulled
its plans to renovate an office building on south Main Street into 200
apartments after a dispute with the city over sewer capacity.
Also in 2023, a New York moving company withdrew
its plans to build a 200,000-square-foot warehouse next to the
sprawling westside office complex known as the Summit after an outpouring of
organized opposition from residents of the nearby Reserve neighborhood.
Belimo’s plans were the latest in a surge of investment in
Danbury’s westside, which leads the city in economic growth.
In addition to a total of 537 housing units that are either
approved, under construction or built – and the likelihood of 200 more
apartments being approved at a defunct hotel at Interstate 84’s Exit
2 – a $96
million proton therapy cancer treatment facility is scheduled to break
ground in the summer, and a $39 million rehabilitation hospital is expected to
open in September.
Amazon eyes property on Waterbury-Naugatuck line for 650,000-square-foot distribution center
Andreas Yilma
WATERBURY — The city wants to sell 17.3 acres to Amazon as
the e-commerce giant moves ahead with its plan
to build a massive distribution center in the South End.
The city will hold an April 21 hearing on its proposal
to sell the undeveloped property at 305 Great Hill Road and 0
Sheridan Drive to Amazon.com Services LLC for $325,000.
Most residents who spoke at a
hearing last fall were against Amazon's plan to build a
650,000-square-foot distribution center in the industrial park on land
straddling the Waterbury-Naugatuck town line.
The proposed land to be sold is broken into two parcels —
16.5 acres at 305 Great Hill Road and 0.8 acres at 0 Sheridan Drive. Waterbury
owns both parcels of land although they are both in Naugatuck, Waterbury
City Planner Bob Nerney said.
The access to the proposed development is going to be by way
of Naugatuck roads specifically, Sheridan Drive and Great Hill Road and the
city initially was going to grant an easement over these two properties to
allow for one of the driveways to access the main property," Nerney said.
"The request now is in lieu of burdening the property with an easement, it
would be a direct sale of the property to Amazon.com Services."
Project developer Bluewater Property Group has proposed a
650,000-square-foot, 106-foot tall, multi-floor retail distribution center on
the Naugatuck -Waterbury line in the area of 0 Great Hill Road and 0
Sheridan Drive on about 183 acres. It's divided up to about 114 acres in the
city and roughly 69 acres in the borough.
Bluewater Property Group Vice President Christina Bernard
told residents at that fall hearing the distribution center will operate 24
hours a day, every day of the year and would create 500 to 1,000 permanent
jobs. She said the project would create 300 jobs during the construction,
estimated to take about 24 to 30 months.
The land use process has moved ahead in Waterbury and
Naugatuck.
The Naugatuck Inland Wetlands Commission gave its approval
in November and a month later the borough's Zoning Commission approved the
architectural rendering and the special permit application with several
conditions.
Waterbury Inland
Wetlands & Watercourses Commission also gave an approval late last year.
The city's Zoning Commission issued a zoning permit on Jan. 17.
The Naugatuck Zoning Commission approved at its March 26
meeting a $1.8 million bond to be given to the Naugatuck Land Use office. The
bond is to cover several areas which include landscaping, trees, a sound wall,
temporary detention basin/stormwater systems, soil, erosion and sediment
control, the road widening at the Great Hill Road and Sheridan Drive
intersection and silk fencing.
Amazon has already paid $4.8 million for an 8.5-acre,
industrially zoned property at 193 Sheridan Drive in August 2022 in the
borough, according to the property card.
The city has hired Tighe & Bond, an engineering firm, to
help manage the approval process and Naugatuck land use officials have
used the services of the firm as well.
Nerney said Waterbury has been coordinating with all
the Naugatuck agencies involved in the project.
"You're dealing with a large single structure that's
physically located in both municipalities," Nerney said. "To ensure
that it's given its proper review and inspections that will follow."
Norwich Public Utilities continuing to replace gas lines
Daniel Drainville
Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities and private crews are
continuing work to replace gas lines throughout the city.
Over the last few years, NPU has been awarded two grants
totaling $20.9 million to replace the "aging and leak-prone" lines
with more than 9 miles of new lines, constructed from high-density
polyethylene, an NPU release said. That project includes installing new mains
and services and repaving roads.
The first phase of the work began in October 2024, with
pipeline replacement along Asylum Street, from Grant Court to West Main Street,
where NPU is now tying in service lines. When that work is complete, the road
will be resurfaced, NPU said.
Meanwhile, work for 2025 began recently with the
installation of gas mains along Franklin Street and McKinley Avenue. Work will
continue in the following locations: North Main Street from Burnham Square to
Boswell Avenue; Boswell Avenue along North Main Street to St. Regis Avenue; and
along Fourth Street, from North Main Street to Central Avenue.
Once that work is complete, NPU and contractor crews will
begin in the area adjacent to Norwich Free Academy, along Rockwell and Crescent
streets. That work will be done during the summer to minimize the impact on
traffic.
NPU General Manager Chris LaRose said NPU has been pleased
with the progress so far, and that it anticipates "even more safe and
productive work through the fall."
Older natural gas pipes, NPU said, are more likely to cause
safety issues if they break, and are more likely to leak methane into the air.
"These improvements will make our natural gas system
safer while reducing leaks that can impact air quality in our community,"
Riley said. "These investments will pay benefits for years to come."