CT Construction Digest Friday May 3, 2024

Live updates: I-95 bridge in Norwalk to be demolished after tanker fire

Jessica Bravo, Peter Yankowski, Josh LaBella, Kalleen Rose Ozanic,

NORWALK — A tractor-trailer fire has closed Interstate 95 and caused massive delays on the Merritt Parkway, Post Road and other local roads on Thursday.Watch More

All I-95 lanes in the area remain closed Thursday afternoon due to the crash that occurred between exits 16 and 14 around 5:30 a.m., according to Connecticut's Department of Transportation's website.

Josh Morgan, a DOT spokesperson, said southbound traffic was being diverted off the highway at Exit 16. Northbound traffic was diverting off at Exit 13.

Here are the latest updates:

Local company responded to blaze

Norwalk based King Industries responded to Norwalk Fire Department call for aid Thursday morning by helping crews put out the fire with the foam spraying vehicle.

"We use a green foam which is non-fluorinated foam," said Mike Bourgoin, the environmental manager at King Industries. 

Retired Norwalk Firefighter Tim Morrissette received a call from Ed McCabe, assistant chief-operations for NFD, on his way to work at King Industries Thursday morning.

"The vehicle is readily available for whenever it's needed," Morrissette explained. "Ed had given me a call... and I literally parked my vehicle and got in our quick-response vehicle and headed to the highway, so under five minutes, we're able to get the vehicle on scene."

King Industries worked alongside Norwalk Fire to contain the fire using the green foam.

"Water supply is a problem and especially on a highway like that, so it took us some time to get a good water supply so we could apply the correct amount of foam," Morrissette said. "Once we did get the water supply, probably 20 to 25 minutes, we were able to put the fire out with our vehicle."

Ruined tanker hauled away

The tanker is being towed from the highway as of around 4:45 p.m, and the fire department is clearing the scene, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Conte said.

Norwalk Public Schools closed on Friday

In a message to the community, officials said Norwalk Public Schools will be closed on Friday because of ongoing traffic concerns and delays. They said the district will allow athletic games, drama performances and proms to take place, but all practices are canceled through the weekend.

Officials explain traffic detours

Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said I-95 north is closed at Exit 14, so motorists will get off there and drive to the Exit 15 on-ramp. He said drivers headed south will leave the highway at Exit 15, drive onto West Avenue and get back on at Exit 14 south.

Loughman said people in passenger vehicles can get on Route 7 and take Exit 3 onto Route 15.

Bill Turner, Connecticut's emergency management director, said the state has been using wireless emergency alerts to notify people driving anywhere from the New York border in Port Chester to Bridgeport about the highway closure. He said that system has been running since this morning.

"Anyone who drives into that area ... will receive a wireless alert on their cellphone advising them to avoid the area," he said. "We're going to keep that active throughout the night into tomorrow."

Turner said it seems the message was working, as traffic coming in from New York has decreased. 

Temporary bridge not possible, rebuild could take up to a year, DOT says

DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said it would not be possible to put up a temporary bridge along Fairfield Avenue — over I-95 — because of how wide the gap between the solid roadways is. 

"We will have to build a new bridge," he said.

As soon as the damaged bridge is removed, Eucalitto said, engineers will inspect the pier in the median. If it is safe, he said, that will make the bridge rebuild easier. Still, he said, the bridge rebuild will take place over the course of a year or so.

State police: Investigation into crash still active

Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said no one has been charged in connection with the crash, adding the investigation is ongoing. He said troopers were able to map the scene, do inspections on all the vehicles involved, take measurements and photographs and interview witnesses.

Loughman said troopers have been placed along the diversion area route to control the flow of traffic. 

“We’re just looking for cooperation from the public to avoid the area,” he said, adding troopers will work to ensure commercial vehicles stay off the parkways.

Norwalk mayor: Situation 'could have been so much worse'

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said the situation "could have been so much worse," adding cooperation between local and state authorities mitigated that. 

"We're optimistic that we're going to get moving forward," he said. "Things will get back to normal in Norwalk as quickly as we possibly can."

Rilling said extra police officers and firefighters will be working over the next few days.  

Lamont declared an emergency, traffic still significant

Lamont said he had issued a declaration of emergency, and notified federal officials. He said he hopes to get federal reimbursement for the bridge replacement. 

Traffic on I-84, Rt. 87 and Rt. 15 is still heavy, Lamont said, adding that motorists should avoid the area if possible. He said extra rail service is being offered for people who need other options for commuting to New York City or Hartford.

“My recommendation is, if you can’t stay home, take the train,” he said. “Stay away from the cars.”

Governor Lamont says 'bridge is going to have to come down'

In a news conference late Thursday afternoon, Gov. Ned Lamont said the heat from the fire damaged the bridge, so it will have to be taken down. He said that demolition will start at 3 a.m. Friday, adding it will take about a day to do so. He said the highway will likely be fully reopened by Monday morning.

Fire and smoke from crash did not impact air quality, DEEP says

In a Tweet, DEEP said environmental officials conducted air monitoring at the scene and no impacts to air quality were detected.

Environmental officials work to remove gasoline

Rich Scalora, the supervising emergency response coordinator with the state DEEP, said workers from Republic Services have pumped out 4,100 gallons of gas that was untouched in the tanker. Now, he said, crews are pumping the remaining gas that’s mixed with foam and water.

Scalora said the tanker is split into compartments, which is why some gas remained untouched. He said the next steps are digging up the gas in the soil surrounding the highway.

"We're going to dig up all that soil that’s impacted or potentially impacted because if we leave it in there, all it’s going to do is continue to saturate into the ground and we want to avoid that at all costs," he said.

Scalora said some of the gasoline went into catch basins and from there went into a retention pond on West Avenue.

"Gasoline, unlike oil, floats on top of water. Gasoline is what we call miscible, so it kind of mixes into the water, so it's a lot harder to retrieve or remove from the water," he said.

Workers will put down Speedy Dry to clean the highway and must sweep the roadway, Scalora said, adding the goal is to have all work done in 24 hours.

"We’re going to work through the night or we’re going to work for as long as it takes," he said.

Norwalk police list road closures

In a post on Facebook, the Norwalk Police Department said officers are stationed at various intersections throughout the city to help alleviate congestion.  

Police said Fairfield Avenue is closed from Cedar Street to Connecticut Avenue; Cedar Street is closed eastbound from Connecticut Avenue to Fairfield Avenue and is closed in both directions from Fairfield Avenue to Reed Street. They said Stuart Avenue's southbound lane is closed from Connecticut Avenue to Reed Street. 

DEEP officials say no gasoline found in Norwalk River

On Thursday afternoon, Paul Copleman, a DEEP spokesperson, said environmental contractors working oversight were recovering gasoline from a retention basin that collects stormwater drainage from Interstate 95. He said the retention basin is located along West Avenue, Route 7 and Interstate 95.  

"It does not appear that any of the spilled gasoline has entered the Norwalk River or the Norwalk Harbor," he said. "Booms are in place at the outfall to the river as a precaution."

Federal officials address impact of tanker crash

In a congressional hearing on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., spoke to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about the crash and its impact on the I-95 corridor. 

"I know you've already put out a statement on this, but I just wanted to get your commitment that you'll be working all throughout the day, personally and through your staff, to make sure that we assess the damage, we get crews out there, and we get the highway and the overpass open as safe as it is possible for commuters and residents," he said.

Buttigieg said he had spoken to Gov. Lamont Thursday morning about the situation, adding the the Federal Highway Administrator was tracking it. He said the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will get involved if necessary, "given any spillage that might be in play."

"And we'll do everything we can to help everybody get back to normal there," he said. "We know and of course have been reminded through experience just how important a smooth and normal ride on I-95 can be."

Westport schools superintendent expects delays on bus routes

Westport Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice sent an email to the district community Thursday afternoon alerting expected delays to the after-school commute.

"While this morning’s accident leaves many uncertainties with travel time, I do want to remind families of the First View Bus Tracking App which can assist in determining exact drop off times," he said.

Families that do not have the app can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Scarice also thanked Westport’s bus company, First Student, for its efforts of getting students safely to school.

"They were on top of the travel issues long before buses started rolling and did incredible work navigating the clogged streets," he said. "I am sure they will handle this afternoon’s commute in a similar fashion."

Westport police Lt. Eric Woods confirmed in a media release that as of 1 p.m., I-95 near Westport/Norwalk remained closed with no estimation of reopening. Police are advising those who do not need to travel to stay off the roads.

"Westport will remain extremely heavy through the evening commute, and most likely in the days to come," he said.

Tanker swerved to avoid crash, official says

A Standard Oil tanker had swerved to avoid a collision after a sedan cut off a tractor-trailer on I-95 southbound, according to Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Shay.

In doing so, the back of the tanker was ripped open, spilling gasoline and causing the fire, he added.

Shay said some gasoline spilled into the Norwalk River, an issue the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is handling. Shay said that responders installed booms on the catch basins to prevent gasoline from going into the river.

Police: Westport traffic also heavily impacted, likely to last days

The Westport Police Department said traffic will likely be heavily impacted for the next several days. 

"We have been in communication with local authorities as they navigate the safe reopening of the interstate," police said.

Westport police encouraged motorists to stay home, if they can. 

Official: Bridge will be torn down tonight

Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Shay said the Fairfield Avenue bridge will be torn down in the next 48 hours, citing information from the state DOT.

Shay said the demolition will start Thursday night. In the meantime, traffic will be rerouted between exits 16 and 14.

Lamont delays second scheduled presser to 5 p.m. 

For an unknown reason, Gov. Lamont's second press conference of the day is being moved to 5 p.m., even though it was orginally announced to start at 2 p.m. 

The press conference will still take place at the Connecticut Emergency Operations Center in Hartford. 

When asked why the press conference was postponed, Bednarz said officials would have "more updates available at that time."

Police asks for continued patience from public

By 1 p.m. on Thursday, Norwalk police said there still were serious delays and congestion in the area on I-95.

While patrol officers are trying to reroute traffic in the heavily-trafficked areas , the police department said on X that "Fairfield Ave. is closed from Cedar St. to Connecticut Ave. Cedar St. is closed eastbound from Connecticut Ave to Fairfield Ave. and is closed both directions from Fairfield Ave. to Reed St. Stuart Ave. is closed southbound from Connecticut Ave. to Reed St." 

Judicial court proceedings affected by Norwalk crash

The Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District also felt the effects of Thursday’s crash. Many of the district’s most serious cases needed to be administratively continued Thursday because prisoners couldn’t be transported from the state’s various correctional facilities that sit north of the crash site in Norwalk.

And the effects of the crash may linger beyond Thursday for the state’s most southerly district judicial district.

“This may be an issue tomorrow, as well,” said Judge Bruce Hudock during Thursday’s proceedings.

“It may be even more than two days,” replied Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Nemec.

Lamont schedules another press conference at 2 p.m. 

David Bednarz, a spokesperson for Lamont, said another press conference to discuss an update on the fire is scheduled to occur in Hartford at 2 p.m. 

Lamont spoke at the same place, the Connecticut Emergency Operations Center, earlier in the day, at 9:30 a.m. 

Fire Chief: Tanker involved cannot be moved until unloaded

City and state officials met at the Norwalk City Hall at around 11:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss updates on the serious I-95 crash.

Fire Chief Gino Gatto said the tanker involved in the crash cannot be moved until all remaining load, if any, is offloaded. 

Gatto said many surrounding towns offered resources, such as their fire departments and hazmat units, to aid city officials. 

Motorists are being asked to avoid the area and work from home for the next several days, as the area is expected to remain busy, Mayor Rilling said.

Don Remson, a DOT maintenance supervisor, said utilities that run under the bridge have been shut off indefinitely and officials are waiting for the scene to be cleared safe. Once it is cleared, engineers can start working.

"We don't have, can't tell you what's going on with the damage because they haven't been able to fully inspect the bridge," Remson said. "So we're hoping to have another meeting sometime later today with the engineers and our construction people to see what the next step for the bridge is."

Police Chief James Walsh reminded motorists and residents to keep checking city social media pages for updates in the upcoming hours, as more updates are expected.

Police: Flames may have rose about 100 feet above overpass

Police Sgt. Dan Sefcik estimates that when the oil truck was fully engulfed, flames rose about 100 feet above the bridge.

“When you can feel the heat, you know you’re too close,” Sefcik said.

City officials are scheduled to have a press conference with updates on the crash and scene at 11:30 a.m. 

State police assuming investigation into crash, scene remains active

State police are taking the lead on the investigation, said Norwalk police Lt. Robert Zwillich, who reported to the scene just before 6 a.m.

As traffic piled up on Norwalk’s side streets, a tractor-trailer caught a sagging wire in front of 79 Cedar St., said Bryce Micah, a senior lineman for South Norwalk Electric and Water. He said the road was not shut down and that SNEW bucket trucks responded.  

Nearby, a cashier at Old Post Spirit shop, Carlos Quinga, on the corner of Cedar St. and Fairfield Ave., said he hopes that people stuck in traffic can stop in and get some non-alcoholic refreshments.

Quinga said he lives nearby, on Golden Hill, and got stuck in a bit of traffic when he drove to work.

“It’s my first time seeing traffic like this,” Quinga said. “Crazy.”

Darien officials tell motorists to expect delays

Shortly after 10 a.m., the Darien Police Department issued a statement on social media that the town was experiencing major traffic delays because of the situation on I-95.

Drivers were advised to expect continuous delays throughout the day and allow extra time for travel.

Motorists at standstill for hours

One Bridgeport resident sat in traffic for hours en route to Stamford.

Jennifer Decoteau, an occupational therapist at Aspire Living and Learning Academy in Stamford, was stuck on Cedar Street about 10:30 a.m. and had been in traffic since 7 a.m.

She left Bridgeport at 7 a.m., got to Westport at 8 a.m., when she dropped off her children at Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Program. It took her 1 ½ hours to get to Norwalk and she still needed to get to Stamford.

Eversource plans to cut investment in CT by $500M over 5 years due to regulatory ‘uncertainty’

Andrew Larson

Eversource Energy officials said during an earnings call Thursday morning that the utility company plans to cut its capital expenditures in Connecticut by nearly $100 million in 2024, and by $500 million over the next five years, as a result of the state’s “uncertain” regulatory environment.

John Moreira, Eversource’s executive vice president, CFO and treasurer, said the reductions will continue “until we see Connecticut's regulatory decisions come back into alignment with law and state policy.”

Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan added that he has “serious concerns” about the company’s ability to implement clean energy technologies, and to reduce carbon emissions, in light of the ongoing dispute over cost recovery.

“As it stands, regulatory policies in Connecticut discourage investment in utility innovation, as well as our participation in a wide range of clean energy initiatives that rely on our balance sheet and our capital resources,” Nolan said.

Asked by an analyst what the cuts would entail, Nolan said they could affect the reliability of service in Connecticut, which he said is currently “best in class.”

“Our investment objectives in Connecticut have been centered around safety and reliability, as you'd expect,” Nolan said. “We will not reduce our safety spending. The reduction will likely come from reliability areas.”

At the crux of the ongoing dispute between utilities and their regulator, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, is whether utilities can recover costs for upfront capital investments. Nolan said cost recovery cannot be deferred into the future, under uncertain terms.

However, PURA has said that utilities “may only earn a return on capital assets that are complete and servicing customers.”

The question is being debated in court.

An Eversource subsidiary, water utility Aquarion, has appealed a Superior Court’s decision in March which upheld most of PURA’s decision to cut $40 million from Aquarion’s proposed revenue increase last year. Aquarion has filed an appeal in Appellate Court and is asking to have the case sent to the state Supreme Court for review.

Meanwhile, Eversource is continuing to move forward with plans to sell Aquarion, Nolan said.

Connecticut’s other electric utility, United Illuminating, also has appealed a rate decision by PURA.

Nolan said he was encouraged by PURA’s decision last month to approve an $873 million rate adjustment for Eversource, which he said includes reimbursement of deferred public policy costs. The rate increase of about 18% goes into effect July 1, but should be mitigated by lower supply costs for ratepayers.

An Eversource spokesman said the rate adjustment is not for capital projects, but for pass-through costs.

The news came as Eversource reported net income of $523.7 million during the first quarter of 2024, an increase from $493 million in the year-ago period.

Eversource serves more than 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It provides electricity in 149 towns and cities in Connecticut.

Last month, Eversource announced that it was suspending its new electric vehicle charging rebates due to “uncertain regulatory treatment” in Connecticut.

States rethink data centers as ‘electricity hogs’ strain the grid

KEVIN HARDY 

State Sen. Norm Needleman championed the 2021 legislation designed to lure major data centers to Connecticut.

The Democratic lawmaker hoped to better compete with nearby states, bring in a growing industry, and provide paychecks for workers tasked with building the sprawling server farms.

But this legislative session, he’s wondering if those tax breaks are appropriate for all data centers, especially those with the potential to disrupt the state’s clean energy supply.

Particularly concerning to him are plans for a mega data center on the site of the state’s only nuclear power plant. The developer is proposing an arrangement that would give it priority access to electricity generated at the plant, which would mean less carbon-free power for other users.

“That affects our climate goals,” he said. “It’s additional demand of renewable energy that we would have to replace.”

Needleman, co-chair of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee, is now reconsidering details of the state incentive program as he works on legislation to study the impact of data centers on the state’s electric grid. Mistakes now, he said, could lead to “a real crisis.”

Compared with other employers that states compete for, such as automotive plants, data centers hire relatively few workers. Still, states have offered massive subsidies to lure data centers — both for their enormous up-front capital investment and the cachet of bringing in big tech names such as Apple and Facebook. But as the cost of these subsidy programs balloons and data centers proliferate coast to coast, lawmakers in several states are rethinking their posture as they consider how to cope with the growing electricity demand.

From the outside, data centers can resemble ordinary warehouses. But inside, the windowless structures can house acres of computer servers used to power everything from social media to banking. The centers suck up massive amounts of energy to keep data moving and water to keep servers from overheating.

Data centers are the backbone of the increasingly digital world, and they consume a growing share of the nation’s electricity, with no signs of slowing down. The global consultancy McKinsey & Company predicts these operations will double their U.S. electric demands from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to 35 gigawatts by 2030 — enough electricity to power more than 26 million average homes.

Some states, including Maryland and Mississippi, continue to pursue incentives to land new data centers. But in other states, the growth of the industry is raising alarms over the reliability and affordability of local electric grids, and fears that utilities will meet the demand by leaning more heavily on fossil fuel generation rather than renewables.

In South Carolina, lawmakers have started to question whether these massive power users should continue to receive tax breaks and preferential electric rates.

In Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, a legislative study is underway to learn more about how those operations are affecting electric reliability and affordability.

And Georgia lawmakers just passed legislation that would halt the state’s tax incentives for new data centers for two years. Georgia is home to more than 50 data centers, including those supporting AT&T, Google and UPS, according to the state commerce department.

Georgia Republican state Sen. John Albers, a sponsor of the Senate bill, said the significant growth of data centers in his state has helped communities and schools by boosting property tax revenues. But, considering factors such as water and electric use, he said the return on the state’s investment “is not there” and that “initial findings do not support credits from the state level.”

Nationwide, data center subsidies were costing state and local governments about $2 million per job created, according to a 2016 study by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks economic development incentives. That figure has certainly ballooned in recent years, said Kasia Tarczynska, the organization’s senior research analyst, who authored the report.

The Georgia bill now sits on the desk of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, whose office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Data Center Coalition, a trade group representing tech giants including Amazon, Google and Meta, is urging a veto.

Josh Levi, president of the organization, said data center companies are investing billions in new Georgia data centers, making metro Atlanta one of the nation’s biggest industry hubs.

Levi noted that lawmakers in 2022 extended the state’s tax credit program through 2031.

“The abrupt suspension of an incentive that not only has been on the books, but that was extended two years ago, I think signals tremendous uncertainty, not just for the data center industry, but more broadly,” he said.

Levi said the data center industry has been at the forefront of pushing clean energy. As of last year, data center providers and customers accounted for two-thirds of American wind and solar contracts, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence report.

“Fundamentally, data is now the lifeblood of our modern economy,” he said. “Everything that we do in our personal and professional lives really points back to data generation, processing and storage.”

‘Electricity hogs’

In fast-growing South Carolina, lawmakers have pointed to data centers as a major factor in rising electricity demand.

As part of a broader energy bill, the legislature considered a measure that would prevent data centers from receiving discounted power rates.

Republican state Rep. Jay West said inducements such as reduced power rates are appropriate for major, transformational endeavors. He pointed to the BMW factory in Spartanburg, which employs 11,000 people, draws in major suppliers and pumps millions into the state economy.

While data centers boost local property taxes receipts, they don’t do much for the state, he said, and shouldn’t receive preferential rates. And they are being built faster than new energy generation can be added.

“I do not speak for my caucus or the [legislative] body in saying this,” he said, “but I don’t think South Carolina can handle more data centers.”

The House provision on data center utility rates was quickly struck in a Senate committee, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported.

Lynn Teague, vice president of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, said that change was made with no public discussion.

Teague, who lobbies the legislature, said South Carolinians, including more than 700,000 people living in poverty, shouldn’t have to pick up the tab for tax or utility breaks for major data center firms.

“We have companies like Google with over $300 billion in revenues a year wanting these folks to subsidize their profit margin at the same time that they’re putting intense pressure on not just our energy, but our water,” she said.

Lawmakers saw data centers as a possible successor to South Carolina’s declining textile industry when they approved the data center incentives in 2012, The State reported at the time. One Republican bill sponsor, then-state Rep. Phyllis Henderson, also cited North Carolina’s success with data center incentives, saying South Carolina was “just losing projects right and left to them.”

But on the Senate floor earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, a Republican, described data centers as “electricity hogs that aren’t really providing a whole lot of jobs.”

‘Rippling effects’

Virginia has been a hub for data centers for decades, touting its proximity to the nation’s capital, inexpensive energy, a robust fiber network and low risk of natural disasters. Now, Virginia lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing the industry.

That’s in part because data centers have moved into traditionally residential areas, said Republican state Del. Ian Lovejoy, who represents a Northern Virginia district.

Over Half of March State Construction Unemployment Rates Down From a Year Ago

The March 2024 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, down 0.2 percent from the previous year, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released May 2 by Associated Builders and Contractors.

The analysis also found that 29 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, two states were unchanged (New Jersey and Oklahoma) and 19 states were higher.

National NSA payroll construction employment was 275,000 higher than in March 2023. Since February 2022, seasonally adjusted construction employment has exceeded its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million. As of March 2024, SA payroll construction employment stood at 8.2 million.

Indicating the relative tightness of the construction employment market in many states, this March, 31 states had lower construction unemployment rates compared to March 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 19 states had higher rates.

"Despite elevated interest rates, construction activity and employment continue at a healthy pace," said Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. "Builders are hiring as they seek to replace retiring workers and anticipate winning future work. Nonresidential construction activity and employment continue to benefit from federal funding and tax incentives for manufacturers, and funding for state and local infrastructure projects is strong."

Recent Month-to-Month Fluctuations

In March, every state had lower estimated construction unemployment rates than in February. The last time that all 50 states had lower rates than in the previous month was in May 2018.

The Top Five States

The five states with the lowest estimated NSA construction unemployment rates for March were:

Maryland, 1 percent

North Dakota, 1.5 percent

Utah, 1.7 percent

Iowa, 2.2 percent

Georgia, 2.3 percent

North Dakota, Iowa and Georgia each posted their lowest March NSA estimated construction unemployment rate on record. Utah notched its second-lowest March rate, behind 2022's 1.6 percent rate. Maryland had its second-lowest March rate, behind last year's 0.8 percent rate.

The Bottom Five States

The five states with the highest March estimated NSA construction unemployment rates were:

46. Illinois, 8.6 percent

47. New Jersey, 9.3 percent

48. Connecticut and Vermont (tie), 10.2 percent

50. Rhode Island, 16.2 percent

Illinois had its second-lowest March NSA estimated construction unemployment rate since 2019's 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, New Jersey had its lowest March rate since 2019, matching last year's 9.3 percent rate. Despite posting the highest construction unemployment rate, Rhode Island had the largest monthly decline in its rate, down 8.6 percent. It was followed by Connecticut and Vermont.

Route 15 and I-91 exit closures to look out for in May

Christian Metzger

MERIDEN — Drivers should expect nighttime ramp closures along Interstate 91 and Route 15 during most of mid-May. 

From May 6 to May 17, ramps will be closed Monday through Friday between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews cut and repave several exit ramps and install temporary concrete barriers in the area, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.  

During these times, the East Main Street on-ramp to Route 15 northbound, Route 15 Exits 67 and 68 NE, and I-91 northbound Exit 16 will all be closed. In addition, the shoulder and right lanes of Route 15 between the two closed exits will be closed. The same lanes will be closed on I-91 between Exits 16 and 17. 

While work is ongoing, detours will be in place to direct traffic. No ramps with conflicting detours will be closed at the same time, according to CT DOT. 

“This I-91/I-691/Route 15 interchange is a critical link for passengers and freight in the Northeast regional transportation network, connecting the I-84 and I-91 corridors between southern New York and Connecticut to points north in Massachusetts and beyond,” CT DOT says on its website. “The purpose of these projects is to address traffic operational and safety concerns associated with capacity, congestion, and weaving.”

New bridges, barriers, and road lanes to improve traffic flow will also constructed as part of the project. Two phases of the project are currently underway, with the third phase in development. 

The seven-year-long project is anticipated to cost between $400 million and $500 million and be completed in 2030. 

A complete map and list of detours for the closed exits are available online at https://www.i-91i-691route15interchange.com/.

CT Construction Digest Thursday May 2, 2024

First components for Revolution Wind farm arrive at New London’s State Pier

Sarah Gordon

New London ― The Rolldock Storm, a heavy-load carrier registered in the Netherlands, carried the first offshore wind components for the Revolution Wind project to State Pier on Wednesday.

The turbine sections were the first pieces of a 65-turbine project set to be staged and assembled in New London for an Ørsted and Eversource wind farm that will be built off the coast of Rhode Island.

The 704-megawatt project will be the first to deliver power to Connecticut. The state is expected to receive 300-megawatts of electricity from the project.

State Pier was previously used to assemble and ship components for South Fork Wind, a 12-turbine project that became the first utility-scale offshore wind project in the country and is now supplying renewable power to the Long Island grid.

Eversource's plan to put two transmission lines under Norwalk Harbor sparks concerns about docks

Katherine Lutge

NORWALK — Plans for Eversource to place transmission lines under Norwalk Harbor as part of the $1 billion project to replace the Walk train bridge are prompting concerns over the future of the city’s public docks.

Eversource plans to place two existing overhead transmission lines underground by microtunneling from the Norwalk Police Station, under the Norwalk River, to East Norwalk on Fort Point Street, according to the project’s webpage. However, the tunnel’s path crosses in front of Norwalk’s boat ramp off Veterans Memorial Park.

“Connecticut Department of Transportation is currently rebuilding the Walk Bridge that crosses the Norwalk River to ensure continued railroad operation along the vital Northeast rail corridor,” Eversource’s website says. “As part of this work, we must relocate and energize the two electric transmission lines that span the top of the bridge.”

The tunnel’s path through the river concerns the Norwalk Harbor Management Commission, which has petitioned the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to further investigate the project’s impacts on the harbor and the future of the public dock.

“I think Eversource should be held responsible for any additional work that would be required,” said John Pinto, a member of the Harbor Management Commission during its March 27 meeting. “If we had to replace or refurbish or redesign that dock in the future, having these two high-tension wires underneath our dock is going to set into motion an added expense.”

Microtunneling is a construction method in which a pit is dug to the desired depth, then sections of the tunnel are incrementally pushed into the earth horizontally while the machine at the tip of the tube breaks up and evacuates the soil.

Once complete, the tunnel will house 115kV transmission cables that power Norwalk.

After gaining the necessary 25 signatures, the Harbor Management Commission has temporarily delayed the microtunneling project until DEEP hosts a site visit and hearing. During the last Harbor Commission Meeting on April 24, Chair Alan Kibbe said the visit is tentatively scheduled for May 22 and the hearing tentatively for May 29.

Members of the Harbor Management Commission said the location of the electric cables will create a “Pandora’s box” of negative effects that could limit public access to the harbor. Completely replacing the dock would cost about $4 million, said Geoff Steadman during the meeting in April.

Whether DEEP will deem the project a hindrance to public access and against the costal management plan is unknown, but the commissioners remained skeptical.

“DEEP has recently announced their intent to approve Eversource’s proposed method to relocate their two transmission lines from the Walk Bridge structure to conduits beneath the Norwalk River without conducting a public hearing,” Commissioner Christopher White said on Facebook in asking for support for the petition.

“The Norwalk Harbor Management Commission believes it is important to have a public hearing on this proposal. Routing these transmission lines beneath the David Dunivan Marine Center and the Norwalk River will create long-term impediments to maritime-related use and development in South Norwalk,” he said. 

The Harbor Management Commission needs only 25 signatures to secure a public hearing, but the online petition was closed with 133 supporters.

“It’s clear that there’s no, in my opinion, there’s not going to be any critical discussion,” Steadman said. “Initially, when we talked with DEEP about it, they were interested in the effect on the visitors' dock because it’s a permitted public access facility, that’s supported or encouraged by the Coastal Management Act, so there was some discussion that DEEP might be able to protect the city’s interest.”

Meriden council rejects $25M in bonding for new senior center, health department

Mary Ellen Godin

MERIDEN — The City Council voted 8-4 to reject a proposal Monday to add $25 million to the city's capital improvement plan to fund a new senior center and health department.

The ultimate rejection of the proposed senior center and health department funding followed an hour-long debate over the city's debt load and whether the $25 million would increase or decrease the city's ability to secure grants to cover the price tag of the finished project.

The question divided both caucuses of the City Council.

Opposing the measure were Democrats Sonya Jelks, Chad Cardillo, Yvette Cortez and Joseph Scaramuzzo, along with Republicans Dan Brunet, Michael Zakrzewski and Michael Carabetta, and We the People's Bob Williams. 

Republican Ray Ouellet joined Democrats Michael Rohde, Larue Graham and Bruce Fontanella in supporting the amendment.

The proposal had the strong backing of unaffiliated Mayor Kevin Scarpati, who drew a comparison to the recently completed library renovation project which began with $10 million in bonding and ended with a $13 million project. The senior center project is estimated to cost $44 million to $48 million but councilors want to see lower-cost options.

"We have tried (to get grants) and we don't have a shovel-ready project," Scarpati said. "We have to move the project forward." 

Fontanella at one point asked if the city might want to consider bonding the estimated $5 million cost to design and prepare the project for bidding, rather than the full $25 million at this time. Finance Director Kevin McNabola said the bond counsel recommended putting in the full amount. The city would have until 2030 to pay off the debt. The debt cost would represent about .34 mills as a portion of the tax rate after construction.

"The worst thing you could do is to design the work and not move forward," McNabola said.

After a year-long feasibility study involving city officials, seniors and members of the public, the City Council is seeking to build a 35,000 square-foot-senior center, a 15,000-square-foot health department, an 8,000-square-foot gymnasium, an outdoor area and parking. Most wanted to see designs for a $25 million facility and a $48 million facility. If the city seeks additional funding for the upgraded building, it could go before the council for approval, as it did with the library. 

The city has received a $2 million state grant to demolish the vacant building at 116 Cook Ave. that is contingent upon rebuilding a structure that complies with its Plan of Conservation and Development. 

Jelks, the Democratic majority leader, told councilors that the $48 million project was ideal, but now some of the councilors may have "sticker shock" over the cost. 

She added the council seemed confused over what it wanted to accomplish. 

Scarpati fired back that the specifics have been made clear in multiple meetings and through public input.

"We need to build as big as possible," Scarpati said. "We spent a year studying this. The $25 million is a good starting point."

Scarpati, who has veto power over council decisions, said Tuesday he is reviewing both the city's approved 2025 budget and the capital improvement plan for potential vetoes.

The city has budgeted $15,538 million in debt service for 2025.

CT Construction Digest Wednesday May 1, 2024

New Haven remains bullish on apartments as record year — with 1,000+ units coming online — projected

Hanna Snyder Gambini

New Haven is poised to have a record number of new apartments come online in 2024 from several high-profile projects.

More than 1,000 new units will be available for rent in 2024, marking one of the city’s largest single-year residential expansions in the past two-plus decades, according to economic development officials.

Since 2014, the city of New Haven has added at least 3,500 new affordable and market rate apartments. There’s another 3,500 units in the works for the next few years, not including the 1,000 apartments expected to debut in 2024.

That raises an important question: Can the city absorb all those new units without vacancy rates rising and rents being impacted?

A recent report by Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services projected a rise in apartment vacancy rates in New Haven County this year.

The report said, “Brisk supply gains will drive vacancy to 6.2% by the end of this year, the highest rate noted since mid-2012, when the metric recorded a multi-decade peak of 8.1%.”

However, New Haven economic development officials say the city will have no problems absorbing the new apartments.

Ginny Kozlowski, CEO of New Haven’s Economic Development Corp., said contrary to the report’s predictions, the new units coming online “are too few. We have 87,000 jobs in New Haven, we need more workers and more places for those workers to live.”

New Haven has historically had low apartment vacancy rates, around 3%, according to Marcus & Millichap data.

Those are expected to hold, especially as job creation remains strong and New Haven continues to offer a high quality of life, said Steve Fontana, the city’s deputy economic development director.

“We’re seeing apartments filling up quickly,” he said.

For example, the third phase of the city’s Audubon Square development, which obtained a certificate of occupancy in March for 63 units, is already more than 60% leased and should be fully leased by May, according to the developer.

The Audubon is a $75 million, multiphase, mixed-use project that first launched in July 2018, and has since brought online a total of 470 market rate units. The developer is Norwalk-based Spinnaker Real Estate Partners.

Developers working in the city say new builds are seeing lease-up times cut in half, down to around three or six months now as opposed to roughly nine months to a year about a decade ago, Fontana said.

New Haven is seeing strong demand for all kinds of units, including smaller studios and one-bedroom apartments, as well as two- to three-bedroom units for families, Fontana said.

“The demand is there, and developers wouldn’t be coming here if the demand wasn’t there,” he said.

Other major city apartment projects set to come online this year include:

Square 10, a $400 million, multiphase, mixed-use project on the former coliseum site on South Orange Street by LWLP New Haven development group, which will add a total of 500 units, with 200 apartments coming online by this summer.

DSEL Properties is building 102 market rate units in a mixed-use project on Orange Street, set to open later this year.

The Archive, by Chicago-based developer CA Ventures, will add 166 units in two new mixed-use buildings on Chapel Street by this summer.

Other major projects in the works around the city include 130 units at 500 Blake St., in the Westville neighborhood; and 150 units in the mixed-use Dixwell Plaza redevelopment.

Low vacancy rates expected to hold

Victor W. Nolletti, executive managing director of investments for Institutional Property Advisors, a division of Marcus & Millichap, said New Haven will see a fair amount of new supply entering the market, but the city’s historically low apartment vacancy rates should hold stable, in the 3% range.

The city has been adding new apartments for years, and they are filling up quickly, Nolletti said.

New Haven — which has a population of just under 140,000, making it the second-largest city in Connecticut — benefits from a strong employment base that includes Yale New Haven Hospital, higher-education institutions such as Yale and the University of New Haven, and a biotech and research sector, he said.

Nolletti said there’s a natural ebb and flow in the market, and “there was a good stretch from 1990 to 2005 when there was very little new construction, a good 12 to 15 years with very few units. Now, they’re just exploding.”

Next phase of Gold Star bridge construction to involve major lane changes

Kimberly Drelich

Groton ― The planned replacement of the deck on the northbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge will require shifting two northbound lanes of traffic to the southbound span in two years.

At a public forum on Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation unveiled the planned configuration and details of the next phase of construction on the northbound span that will fix the bridge and make it so oversized trucks can cross.

Project Manager Tracey Brais, who outlined the project to The Day on Monday, said the two northbound lanes will be separated by a barrier from the three southbound lanes on the southbound span.

Meanwhile, two northbound lanes will be maintained on the northbound span.

Brais said Tuesday that since the state DOT is planning another project to strengthen the steel on the southbound side from the summer of 2025 to the summer 2026, the crossover of the lanes won’t start until 2026.

The more than 20 people at the public information meeting at the city’s Municipal Building, listened to the presentation and then asked questions about a variety of topics such as the what work is being done on the bridge now and how the painting of the bridge will be handled.

The second phase of the northbound project also will require some temporary exit closures. The northbound Exit 85 ramp will need to be closed temporarily for a short period of time, anticipated to be a couple of months. The northbound exit 86 off-ramp will be closed to traffic for about two years, with a detour in place, said Brais.

The project discussed at Tuesday’s information session is the second phase of the project to repair the northbound Gold Star bridge.

Currently, for the first phase of the project, crews are strengthening the steel on the truss spans, which are the main spans over the Thames River, Brais said. The first phase began in 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in June 2025.

This second and last phase, which will last from 2025 to the fall 2029, will involve steel repairs to the approach spans over land, replacing the bridge’s deck, replacing bearings, patching up concrete, painting the bridge, and installing new highway lights, a new crash-tested railing system and steel mesh fencing.

Brais said the project is primarily needed because, based on the last biennial inspection, the bridge deck and bridge superstructure are in poor condition.

She said the bridge is safe to drive over, as inspection teams are out there at least biennially inspecting the bridge, and any time there is an incident such as the fire last year. Maintenance crews also frequently address issues as they come up, especially when the public notices a pothole or broken joint.

She said the repairs are needed to bring the bridge up to a state of good repair and keep it in service for at least another 25 years without a major rehabilitation project.

The project also will strengthen the bridge so it will be able to carry oversized, overweight trucks, which currently are detoured 17 miles, she said.

Brais said the DOT plans to go out to bid for the estimated $591 million project for the second phase of the northbound span. The DOT has a $158.2 million federal grant and plans to use 90% federal funds and 10% state funds for the remainder of the project.

The northbound bridge was originally constructed in 1943 to carry two lanes of traffic in both directions. With the construction of the southbound bridge in the late 1960s, the northbound bridge was partially reconstructed in 1975.

New London resident Andrew Lopez said he biked to the meeting in Groton with six of his friends. He said there is a lot of activity on the bike path on the southbound side: they had to pause to let a runner going in the opposite direction pass, then a motor scooter came from behind them and drove past, and then they passed bicyclists heading in the opposite direction.

Brais said the DOT plans to hold a public information meeting at a later date for a project to improve the southbound span’s shared-use pathway. The goal is to widen the path, so it is at least 11 feet wide but mostly 14 feet wide.

More information is available at: https://portal.ct.gov/dot/bridges/project-pages/gold-star-memorial-bridge

People can submit comments or questions to the DOT, by May 14, by emailing DOT.GoldStarBridgeProjects@ct.gov or calling (860) 594-2020.

New Milford launches long-awaited $4.3 million construction project to replace Merryall Road bridge

Kaitlin Lyle

NEW MILFORD – The construction work to replace the Merryall Road bridge began Monday with the removal of the existing 20-foot-long bridge that had been classified as in "poor condition."

The bridge, which spans the West Aspetuck River near West Meetinghouse Road, was identified as one of the five worst bridges in Litchfield County.

The new bridge will be “longer and larger” — 40 feet long and 22 feet wide — and will have new guardrails, according to Jack Healy, director of New Milford public works. The new bridge has been approved by the state Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Healy said.

The cost of construction is $4.3 million, with the cost split 50-50 by the state and the town. Watertown-based Dayton Construction Co. was awarded the contract and is expected to finish work by Nov. 30, according to Healy.

The section of Merryall Road on the northern side by the bridge will be closed to traffic for the project’s duration, according to Mayor Pete Bass’s Facebook page. 

West Meetinghouse Road will be closed to through traffic May 7 and May 8, to set up the construction crew’s crane, remove the superstructure and then break down the crane, according to the public works’ website.

The town has sought to fix the Merryall Road bridge for many years but struggled to find the best approach. The town filed its initial application to DOT for the project in 2013, Healy said. 

Several public hearings and informational meetings were held to gather input from residents.

New Milford hired WMC Consulting Engineers in Newington in 2022 to provide the design of the bridge and associated roadway and site improvements along with an evaluation of additional alternative studies for the bridge replacement. 

WMC said the bridge replacement project would take seven months, starting April 1, 2023, and running through Nov. 30, 2023.

The project began a year later because the town encountered delays in getting the needed permits, Healy said. Town officials also talked to residents about the project and worked to make sure the project met the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ standards.

“We had a few delays with the permitting, with making sure we got all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed,” Healy said. New Milford received its final permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in April, he said.

Concrete arrives for Pomperaug High’s tennis courts

STEVE BIGHAM 

SOUTHBURY – Forty-seven truckloads of concrete were delivered to Pomperaug High School on Tuesday as part of the ongoing reconstruction of the school’s five tennis courts, which have been closed and unplayable for nearly a decade.

Region 15 Superintendent Joshua Smith said he is hoping the court project will be completed in time to allow the school’s boys and girls tennis teams to play a handful of matches before the spring season concludes.

The $1.4 million project was approved by voters in Middlebury and Southbury last year as part of an $11 million bond package for various districtwide upgrades. R.S. Site and Sports of Oxford is the contractor for the tennis court project.

School officials said the new courts have been built using state-of-the art underground cabling to provide just the right amount of tension to ensure no cracking occurs.

The new courts will be made of concrete rather than asphalt. Tuesday’s pouring of 470 square yards of concrete was provided by Concrete LLC of Oxford.

R.S. Site and Sports noted the courts will need to cure for about a month before being painted.

In recent years, Pomperaug’s tennis teams have practiced and held matches at the nearby Edgewood Bath and Tennis Club, a private facility in Middlebury that has been charging Region 15 rent.

CT Construction Digest Tuesday April 30, 2024

Hartford Line construction will cause temporary schedule changes for rail passengers

Jamila Young

Train schedules for the Hartford Line will be disrupted from May 28 to Nov. 1 due to several planned construction projects.

According to the state Department of Transportation, construction is set to take place weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with further details on schedule changes expected to be released next month on its website.

The projects include an upgrade to the Windsor Locks station with high-level platforms, new lighting fixtures, and features that will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as the installation of new interlockings. Maintenance will also be done to the existing rail grade crossings that will include additional safety features.

The DOT says that due to the construction, select weekday trains will be replaced by bus service.

"Work is planned to occur outside of peak train times to limit impact to customers. This amended service plane will expedite these critical projects and save a year on construction and significantly reduce cost uncertainties," DOT Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Benjamin Limmer said. "We appreciate the public's patience as these needed station and track improvements occur on the Hartford Line." 

In November, the DOT announced it had received $105 million in federal funding, with $41.9 million in matching funds, that would bring additional tracks to the Hartford Line, as well as improve signals and grade crossings. There are also plans to start construction on an Enfield station next year.

A groundbreaking was held at the Windsor Locks station in 2022, and the project is expected to be complete next summer. 

Proposed increase in barge traffic in Norwalk Harbor sparks debate: Trying to reduce heavy industry

Katherine Lutge

NORWALK — Concerns about the future of Norwalk Harbor have arisen since O&G Industries proposed expanding its use of barges to transport construction supplies in the area.

More than 1,000 turn out for 'March for a Free Palestine' in downtown New HavenMore than 1,000 turn out for 'March for a Free Palestine' in downtown New Haven

“The benefit of this particular mode of transport is that it would remove trucks from I-95,” said Elizabeth Suchy, an attorney representing Torrington-based O&G Industries during the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on April 3. “It’s a more feasible, economical and faster method of transportation for this construction material that is essential for the construction industry in this section of the state.”

But the rowing community along with environmental activists have protested the pending change, which, if allowed, would mean more barges in Norwalk Harbor.

“We’re here to express our deep concerns with the pending O&G application to expand their industrial use on the Norwalk River. As you all know as its leaders, we are trying to reduce the impact of heavy industry on the river,” Lisa Shanahan said on behalf of the Norwalk Land Trust during the Harbor Management Commission on April 24.

Several rowing clubs also protested the proposed increase in barges on the river, which they all share when taking part in the sport.

“Increased barge traffic, tenfold on the river, is going to possess a substantial danger to our rowers and the whole rowing community. There are multiple rowing clubs that are utilizing the river daily,” said Roman Vengerovskiy, director of operations at Maritime Rowing Club.

The river is already crowded with hundreds of athletes on rowing teams, and the presence of more barges would make him “extremely concerned,” Vengerovskiy said. 

“We were surprised and disheartened to see the harbor commission approved the O&G application as consistent with the harbor management plan with seemingly no review or commentary on the safety factors considering around the use of the barges on this river,” said Jim Sweitzer from the Connecticut Boat Club.

The application from O&G Industries, which has facilities across the state, was already approved by the Harbor Management Commission, which is considering the rowing and environmental concerns again.

“We wanted to discuss again based on new information that’s come forward some of the aspects of the that O&G project,” said John Pinto, a member of the Harbor Management Commission.

Pinto noted concerns about multiple barges in the harbor blocking the way for smaller boats. 

O&G noted that its application was deemed acceptable by the Harbor Management Commission and said its supports the rowing community and will continue to work with it.

“We certainly support the rowing that does occur in the Norwalk River,” said Richard Warren from O&G Industries.

In all, O&G hopes to bring 10 to 12 barges a year up the Norwalk Harbor. The change in the use of the property is still up to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Here’s how a once-rundown Portland quarry is being transformed into an upscale Nordic-style spa

Michael Puffer

ACanadian hospitality company planning to build a chain of Nordic spas in unique settings across the U.S. has paid $2.5 million for a Portland brownstone quarry that dates back to the 1600s.

The 6.3-acre site, at 311 Brownstone Ave., was part of a larger quarry — much of it now flooded and underwater — near the Connecticut River. It was a major supplier of the rich brown sandstone that reached the height of its popularity in the late 1800s.

Major quarry operations shut down after much of the site flooded in the 1930s. A one-man operation quarried one corner for about 18 years until 2012.

Contractor Dean Soucy and his wife, Darlene M. Rice, bought the property in 2019 for $300,000. After spending more than four years reviving the rundown site, they sold it in early April to Pomeroy Lodging.

It was a nice return on investment, but it wasn’t easy money. They spent considerable funds, and even more sweat equity, reviving the rundown and littered site, which is now poised to become a spa facility that will offer a unique hydrotherapy experience.

Sweat equity

Soucy said he originally bought the property as a place to park his foundation repair business’ heavy equipment, including bulldozers, an excavator and truck.

The quarry originally listed for $1 million, but the asking price had dropped to $375,000 by the time Soucy went to see it, he said. He offered $300,000 to buy it as-is, with no extensive inspection.

The property had an open area where he could park his vehicles, but most of it was covered by a mixture of thick brush, thorns and literally tons of garbage, most of which had been pushed over a roughly 50-foot cliff running along a border with neighboring properties. The quarry’s rear was flooded and swamped with water leaching off the cliff sides.

On one of the couple’s early visits, it took them about two hours to fight through the thicket to a point where they could get a clear view of the flooded quarry below.

Despite the wall of brush and garbage, Soucy and Rice were certain they had found a diamond in the rough.

“We were awestruck,” Rice said. “We knew we had something. We just didn’t know what we had.”

Soucy, now 65, shuttered his foundation repair company shortly after the purchase to focus on improving the quarry. The bureaucracy of a state program assisting homeowners with defective foundations had left him frustrated and stressed, he said.

The quarry gave him a passion project on which to focus. Soucy began improving the property without a clear concept or end-goal.

“It was almost like this land popped up in front of us and said: ‘Well, you have an opportunity to work,’” Soucy said.

Soucy spent months cutting brush and restoring drainage channels, as well as building pathways, small bridges and Stonehenge-like arrangements out of brownstone slabs. He worked with neighbors to clean surrounding slopes.

Soucy said he carted away dozens of tires and shopping carts, along with 1,400 pounds of milk crates, 800 pounds of glass and 22,000 pounds of other trash.

He also repaired and improved drainage structures, drying out much of the property and restoring a constantly flowing waterfall off the lower cliff. New sewer and water pipes were installed from the road.

Soucy said he “begged for and borrowed” materials to perform his renovations, including soil to level or raise portions of the site.

Meantime, Rice kept her day job as a collections manager for a local fuel company, covering the cost of groceries, insurance and other household bills. Rice visited the quarry daily after work to check on progress and help out.

The cleared brush revealed a spectacular view of the flooded quarry along one entire side of the property, prompting Rice to name the site “Quarry View.” Today, it looks like a rustic and unique park.

Landscaped terraces allow visitors to see turtles and carp swimming dozens of feet below the lip of the cliff.

Soucy and Rice eventually began generating revenue from the property by hosting events, like drum circles, craft fairs and even weddings, asking for donations and charging $10 for parking. They also rented out campsites for $100 per night.

Quarry View even hosted a funeral for a fan of the site who was killed in a car crash. Soucy made a special brownstone shelf to hold her urn and photographs during the memorial.

Soucy said he hasn’t tallied up his costs for upgrading the property. He is confident expenses far exceeded any revenue from the site. After the sale, Soucy and Rice paid off a $245,000 line of credit against their house, much of which had gone toward renovations, he said.

In 2022, Soucy and Rice added a 2,800-square-foot building near the front of the parcel. It was going to offer public bathrooms and wash facilities for campers, as well as an 800-square-foot apartment.

Soucy and Rice said they poured their hearts into upgrading the property, but didn’t want to pass the maintenance burden to their children. So, they put it up for sale in 2022.

Mark Riesbeck, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway New England, said Pomeroy Lodging representatives visited the quarry in summer 2022, then again that fall. It was under contract by November or December 2022, less than a year after it was listed.

“The Pomeroys were the only ones who wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the land,” Riesbeck said. “Their plan is built around incorporating the quarry, leveraging every aspect. There wasn’t a better buyer than them.”

Pomeroy Lodging hired Soucy and Rice as consultants, to help preserve the cut stone slabs that will be incorporated into the day spa.

First of many

Pomeroy Lodging is a hospitality company with a diverse portfolio that includes hotels, resorts and Nordic spas, mostly located in Canada. Its brands range from the more upscale Pomeroy Inn & Suites and Pomeroy Hotel Conference Centre, to a Ramada, Holiday Inn Express and even a Motel 6.

The company’s history stretches back to 1941, when founder Ralph Pomeroy purchased a hotel in Fort St. John, British Columbia.

Work will begin in May on the Nordic spa in Portland, which will offer a type of health therapy pioneered in Canada, where participants move through cycles of hot, cold and rest.

The spa will be built around a 20,000-square-foot main bathhouse, and feature a 6,000-square-foot bistro restricted to spa customers. It will offer a waterfall, steam room, cold-plunge pools, saunas, fire pits, saltwater relaxation pools and more.

These experiences will be spread across the property in stations and structures ranging from 250 square feet to about 700 square feet, all joined by heated pathways.

“We love the environment,” said Chris Puchalla, Pomeroy’s executive vice president of real estate. “Part of the Nordic-spa experience is unique experiences in unique environments, immersed in nature.”

Puchalla said the Portland development will cost in the “double-digit millions, and not the low double-digits.” The company is self-funding the expansion, he said.

Pomeroy built its first Nordic spa at its Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Canada, a hotel it purchased in 2014, then refurbished. It opened a second spa in 2022, at the Alyeska Resort, 40 miles outside Anchorage, Alaska.

The Quarry View site in Portland was a “lucky find,” a late addition to a 2022 site tour focused on the greater New York area, Puchalla said. Company representatives liked the site’s natural beauty, as well as the quality shops and restaurants found in nearby downtown Middletown, he said.

Puchalla said the Portland Nordic spa is scheduled to open in early fall 2025. It will be the first of Pomeroy’s Nordic spa locations in the lower-48 United States.

The company has acquired a Colorado site, he said, and is in “active pursuit and design” of 15 to 20 additional sites in seven states.

The Portland spa will be a day-trip experience, drawing guests from diverse backgrounds. Prices will vary by time and day, generally ranging from $110 to $135, Puchalla said. Evening “twilight soaks” will be discounted up to 40%.

“This is an experience that caters to anyone that wants to come in and have a hydrotherapy experience, and relax, and be with friends,” Puchalla said.

Pomeroy purchased the Portland site, shortly after the town approved the project.

Puchalla said town officials were supportive, and the approval process was among the smoothest he’s experienced in his career.

Town Planner Dan Bourret said officials see this as an economic development draw for Portland.

“It’s pretty cool, we are all really excited here in town,” Bourret said. 

There’s new hope for a significant CT greenway. It comes after decades of complex debate.

KENNETH R. GOSSELIN

A push to convert a desolate, 4-mile stretch of rail line into a Connecticut greenway with trails for pedestrians and bicyclists has run headlong into the state’s stance that the rails remain a viable freight transportation corridor.

But a new study shows for the first time that it is possible to combine the two uses in Hartford.

A draft of a new study by the Capitol Region Council of Governments, a regional planning agency, is breaking new ground in the decades-old debate over the long-term future of the state-owned Griffin Line.

The study concludes that a trail system could safely and logistically run along one side of the active, single-track rail line, from Hartford’s Asylum Hill neighborhood to the University of Hartford and the Bloomfield town line. five years

The estimated construction cost could be between $30 million and $39 million. CRCOG said the project would likely have to be heavily financed by federal transportation grants.

The study comes as the future of the Griffin Line, built in the late 1800s and which some say reached its heyday in the 1920s, is again stirring debate.

The Griffin Line is seen as a key component to the $65 million Hartline pedestrian and bicycling path that would run from Hartford’s Riverside Park on the Connecticut River to Bloomfield. And it also is seen as a viable option for filling a crucial gap in Hartford in the East Coast Greenway, which runs from Florida to Maine.

The Hartline is part of the expansive Hartford 400 vision for reconnecting Harford to its riverfront by moving, burying or capping highways.

The iQuilt Partnership, whose goal is to make Hartford a more walkable city and which is the architect of Hartford 400, has pushed for the rail line no longer to be used and for the Hartline to be built next to or on the Griffin Line track.

“This doesn’t preclude the Hartline vision from happening,” said Caitlin Palmer, CRCOG’s director of regional planning and development. “But it does allow it to start gaining momentum and become a recreational connection.”

Should the rail fall out of use, the study suggests that the trail can be expanded to include parks with more paths and amenities, or it could be used for a new spur for buses, an option that has been discussed in the past.

Tool for economic development

CRCOG’s study focused primarily on the feasibility of combining the trail and rail line, with the premise that the rail line would remain active, at least for the foreseeable future.

But FHI Studio in Hartford, the lead consultant on the study, said dealing with the active rail line makes the project more complex — and expensive. It requires a whole system of fencing and other measures to protect the safety of those on the trail, FHI said.

But those barriers run counter to another goal of the Hartline.

At its core, the Hartline is certainly for recreation, but it also has a larger purpose.

The 7-mile Hartline is framed as a way to better connect city neighborhoods and spur sorely needed economic development along its path by increasing foot traffic. Similar projects in Atlanta, Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., have met with success and have drawn private investment along their routes, iQuilt has said.

Jackie Mandyck, iQuilt’s executive director, said the fences that would be needed to combine the trail with an active rail line would place another barrier to connecting a half dozen neighborhoods along the trail’s route.

“This is just not good urban design,” Mandyck said. “This is not stitching things together. If you can take something that connects rather than builds more fences, that’s where we want to go.”

Mandyck said CRCOG’s study was well done, and the state Department of Transportation has shown willingness to consider a trail system along the Griffin Line.

“But the trail is not a park,” Mandyck said. “It might have pocket parks along its way. But this is a connector. This is a tool and asset that you can use for economic development.”

The city of Hartford declined to comment on CRCOG’s draft report, saying it will wait until a final report is issued.

How the trail would fit into the economic development puzzle along the Homestead Avenue corridor through which the rail line runs could soon become clearer.

The city of Hartford is launching an economic development study on the corridor. In recent years, the city has acquired properties — many of them industrial — along Homestead Avenue, preparing for future development.

‘Project is feasible’

For its part, the Connecticut Department of Transportation said it remains supportive of a “trails-with-rail” connection.

“While the project is feasible, the safety of the public, with the continued operation of the freight line, must be ensured,” DOT spokesman Josh D. Morgan said, in a statement. “This active freight line moves goods and services to and through Connecticut.

“Any modification to the Griffin Line would undergo a federal review process where existing commercial use would be weighed heavily in that review,” Morgan said. “We look forward to continuing these conversations in the future.”

The DOT also has shown support for the Hartline, including it among its priorities in the Greater Hartford Mobility Study.

Taking the Griffin Line out of service would have implications for the current lease with the Central New England Railroad, as well as a potential decommissioning. Decommissioning can take years.

But Mandyck said she is not advocating decommissioning. There may be other options to take the rail out of active service.

Railbanking, for instance, is an agreement between a rail line owner and a trail sponsor to use an out-of-service rail corridor as a trail until the railroad might need the corridor again.

The option was established in federal law in 1983 as a change to the National Trails System Act.

Gap in East Coast Greenway

CRCOG launched its look at the Griffin Line last year as part of a larger study examining how notable gaps in the East Coast Greenway in the Hartford region could be filled.

In Greater Hartford, critical breaks in the 3,000-mile trail from Maine to Florida exist in Simsbury, Bloomfield, Hartford and East Hartford.

The Griffin Line corridor now becomes a viable option for a greenway link in Hartford. If it were chosen, it could be one and the same as the Hartline.

“One of the things that we were balancing was the long regional connection with really providing amenities in the neighborhood,” Kenneth Livingston, a principal at FHI, said. “We try to create as many for people to interact — intersect and interact — with the trail throughout Hartford.”

FHI’s preferred alternative called the construction of the trail on the south and then west side as the track curves north out of Hartford.

Another option would locate the trail on the north and then east side of the tracks. But this option would mean moving tracks, pushing up the project costs.

The preferred option would run from Garden Street to Plainfield Street, crossing over the train tracks at Plainfield and continuing north to Tobey Road in Bloomfield.

In a route that is narrow overall, one of tightest spots is where the track passes under the bridge at Woodland Street.

The plan calls for punching a new culvert in the bridge so the trail could be built through it. Alternatively, the trail could — at least temporarily — follow a route up the street and back down on the other side of the bridge.

“That was challenging, but it was all a challenge,” Livingston said.

Connecticut's ARPA Funding Has Led to Downtown Revitalizations in Many Towns

On a recent weekday at La Stella Pizzeria, tucked into a flatiron building at Main Street and Market Street in Norwich, Conn., lunch hour was buzzing. Many of the city's other historical storefronts along its downtown thoroughfares were empty and quiet — in some cases for over two decades — but nearly all hinted that some kind of transformation was under way.

But adjacent to La Stella, Water Street Lofts, a residential conversion of a 19th-century building, is nearly complete, and interior construction is visible through several storefront windows along Main Street and Franklin Street. People stop to lounge in pocket parks, and brightly painted murals call out from all corners of the city's commercial district.

"It's coming alive again," said Kevin Brown, executive director of the Norwich Community Development Corp., as he stood at the Marina at American Wharf, where three rivers — the Yantic, Shetucket and Thames — converge.

Like many Connecticut cities and towns, Norwich has directed a small portion of federal COVID-19 relief funds, via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to breathe new life into its hobbled Main Street businesses, CT Mirror, a nonprofit online news service, reported April 24.

The pandemic accelerated a shift to remote work, dealing a blow to downtowns across the state that were already struggling to manage earlier losses of commerce to big-box stores and online retailers.

"We're in some ways living with a legacy of neglect," said Michelle McCabe, executive director of the Connecticut Main Street Center, adding that now, "with workplace habits changing, we need to adjust. Businesses need help."

She noted, though, that two pandemic-era trends, the rise in entrepreneurship, and new public and private housing investments in downtown districts, are beginning to drive change on Main Streets. Putting a small amount of ARPA funding toward things like helping commercial landlords bring their street-level properties up to code, so as to be ready for new storefront tenants, can be transformational.

With just over $4 million in ARPA funds, the Norwich Revitalization Program is working to aid 17 small businesses and contributing to four larger special projects in its downtown. Those efforts have attracted over $25 million in private investment and will result in nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of refreshed space.

"We're turning the lights back on," Brown told CT Mirror.

Of the more than $615 million in ARPA funds spent so far on addressing the pandemic's "Negative Economic Impacts" in Connecticut, roughly $45 million was distributed directly to businesses and nonprofits, including rehabilitating commercial properties.

The $1.9 trillion ARPA funding included $350 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) which must be obligated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026.

Connecticut state and municipal officials have budgeted over $3 billion in SLFRF projects, obligated $2.3 billion, and spent nearly $1.8 billion, according to the U.S. Treasury. Within the "Negative Economic Impacts" category, the state's project budget is nearly $1 billion with $850 million obligated as of the beginning of 2024, CT Mirror noted.

"All these Main Streets are coming back to life with the funds to do wish-list items that aren't just idealistic, but have a huge impact," McCabe told the online news source.

Places like Norwich already have the "incredibly gorgeous bone structure" of historical buildings, she said, with "the bandwidth and resources to pull in entrepreneurs — that's where you start seeing that new vibe going on."

Establishing the ‘Ecosystem'

Elsewhere in the state, the town of Windsor used $100,000 in ARPA funds to help launch two new co-working spaces: one in a retrofitted industrial building near the train station downtown and another in a former bank in Windsor's commercial district.

"By establishing these facilities in the community, we're hoping that folks with the entrepreneurial spirit will get some technical assistance and bump into other like-minded people who are entrepreneurs, want to get businesses launched that will someday move from their space to spaces in our downtown brick-and-mortar locations," said Patrick McMahon, Windsor's economic development director.

"Anything that we can do to build that sort of entrepreneurial ecosystem in the town is beneficial, helps create jobs, and creates vibrant neighborhoods," he added. "We thought that was a really good use of ARPA funding."

Several other towns and cities in Connecticut used ARPA funding to modernize aging infrastructure in their downtowns and commercial business districts to improve safety and usability for visitors and businesses.

For example, the town of Fairfield is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to mitigate flooding around its central business district, while Bristol is slated to spend up to $1 million to install a retaining wall and refurbish a railroad overpass to accommodate more pedestrian activity in its Centre Square district. And Norwalk has put nearly $200,000 it received from ARPA funding toward a program called "Complete Streets," aimed at improving pedestrian safety and accessibility.

Additionally, city leaders in Waterbury identified a pressing need to update the century-old sewer and water infrastructure below Main Street and Bank Street downtown in preparation for a streetscape improvement project. Over $10 million in ARPA was budgeted for those upgrades.

Given that the city's historical downtown structures already require a heavier lift, along with more money, to outfit for modern tenants, that kind of below-the-surface improvement is key to attracting businesses, Dan Pesce, the director of Main Street Waterbury, said in speaking with CT Mirror.

"It's a real benefit to us because we don't have to worry about any infrastructure under the ground that's aging," he explained. "We won't need to address the underground infrastructure in downtown Waterbury for a very long time. That's going to be huge for us moving forward."

Promoting ‘Strolling in Downtown' Connecticut Cities

Since indoor spaces presented risks for many residents and visitors in Connecticut during the pandemic, development went outside toward recreation spaces, small urban parks, al fresco dining and a statewide expansion of public art installations.

In New London, for instance, city leaders are leaning into an aspect of the city's identity that has the potential to draw a crowd with the construction of a new, $150 million National Coast Guard Museum, slated to open on the waterfront late this year or early in 2025. The museum is expected to attract 300,000 visitors a year to the area.

ARPA funds also have gone toward improving infrastructure to enable the city to accommodate more people, such as street lighting and wayfinding signage.

"We're looking for foot traffic, that walkability, that sense of a place to be talked about," said Elizabeth Nocera, economic development coordinator for New London.

The city also assisted in repairing the roofs and facades of downtown buildings as well as helped with code correction. The goal is to get historic storefronts to a state known as "vanilla box," where a new tenant can come in and establish a personal footprint without having to worry about mechanical or structural issues.

Officials in both New London and Norwich have sought to multiply the impacts of ARPA funding by seeking out collaborators and additional sources of investment, both public and private, thus increasing the scale of the projects and their reach.

Rise of Mixed-Use Community

The recent wave of thousands of new hires each year at submarine manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton means nearby cities like Norwich and New London are managing an influx of not just tourists but hundreds more permanent residents in its downtown districts.

"That's where the downtown and the Main Streets start taking advantage," said Felix Reyes, director of New London's Office of Development and Planning. "Once people live by where they work, then you get all that indirect and induced [economic activity]. You get small businesses, and you start getting markets [because] you need eggs and milk and gas and entertainment and restaurants for those people."

Bridgeport was already seeing that transition before the pandemic, and it has only accelerated in the last four years, Lauren Coakley Vincent, president of the city's Downtown Special Services District, told CT Mirror.

She added that, in the downtown neighborhood, several former commercial buildings have been converted for residential use.

"There's a big shift toward what would be called a mixed-use community," she said. "That does influence the type of uses you see at the ground floor level."

At the same time, Bridgeport was making ARPA-funded grants available to hundreds of small businesses throughout the city for storefront improvements or expansion.

Roughly 30 downtown Bridgeport businesses received grants, resulting in the district successfully retaining so many of its ground floor storefront businesses that the city's turnover rate actually declined, Coakley Vincent noted.

Now, she added, the downtown "is much more geared toward sort of a 24-hour use than it had been previously."