June 4, 2024

CT Construction Digest Tuesday June 4, 2024

Friday June 7th Bond Commission Agenda


Naugatuck’s Rubber Avenue project likely bonded

PAUL HUGHES

HARTFORD – The State Bond Commission is expected at its meeting Friday to approve nearly $6 million to the borough of Naugatuck to support the revitalization of the Rubber Avenue corridor.

In late April, state legislators representing Naugatuck and Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess celebrated the approval of a $5,754,493 grant for the project through Community Investment Fund 2030, a state grant program established in 2022 to support economic development in historically underserved communities across Connecticut.

The Bond Commission vote Friday will make the funding available. It is part of a larger bonding allocation of $74.7 million to finance 27 projects that Community Investment Fund 2030 Board approved in March.

Naugatuck will use the CIF grant to address storm water issues in the areas of Scott Street and Nettleton Avenue and improve the development of the Risdon property, a 12-acre former manufacturing site at 0 Andrew Ave. The funds will also supplement the borough’s current Rubber Avenue project that is underway.

The Bond Commission is also expected to approve $15,047 to reimburse the Naugatuck Police Department for the purchase of body-worn and dashboard cameras and recording equipment. In all, five local police departments are due to receive $541,332.

The agenda Friday also includes a $1.8 grant to Naugatuck for improvements to Osborne Field.

The Bond Commission is slated to approve a $1.5 million grant to Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury for its headquarters project, a $1.1 million grant to the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury for upgrades to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and a $300,000 grant to the Manufacturing Alliance Service Corp. in Waterbury for its metal finishing program.

The commission agenda includes a $1,638,250 grant to finance the expansion of the Wolcott Public Library to meet increased demand. The estimated cost of the project is $3,276,500. There is also a $2 million authorization for bathhouse buildings at the Austin Hawes Campground in American Legion Forest in Harwinton.

It also lists a $789,000 grant to to the Oakville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7730 in Watertown for parking lot improvements, $241,132 grant to the town of Watertown for Steel Brook Greenway improvements, and a $750,000 grant to the town of Cheshire for improvements to Miracle Fields in Bartlem Park.

Other agenda items include:

$30 million for reimbursements to municipalities for approved projects under the Local Capital Improvement Fund.

$26.4 million for the Local Transportation Capitol Improvement Program

$4.6 million for the Local Bridge program.

$15 million for the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology to construct a new Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Center in East Hartford to house CCAT’s headquarters and existing programs, as well as provide additional capacity for the organization to expand its applied research and development capabilities.

n $5 million to finance the School Security Infrastructure Competitive Grant program.

n $3.5 million to the city of Ansonia for the demolition of the Ansonia Copper and Brass building.

$7 million to finance repair of water damage to the riverfront esplanade at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford and roof repairs, waterproofing and renovation of team facilities at Rentschler Stadium in East Hartford.

$11 million to capitalize the Minority Business Revolving Loan Fund.


Naugatuck Valley Greenway among 45 projects statewide

PAUL HUGHES

HARTFORD – Newly released state funds will support the continued development of the Naugatuck Valley Greenway.

The governor’s office and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Monday announced the release of a series of grants totaling $10 million to finance the planning, building, expansion, and improvement of 45 multiuse trails located in towns and cities throughout Connecticut.

The funding is being provided through the Connecticut Recreational Trails Grant Program. The Connecticut Greenways Council assisted DEEP with the competitive grant selection process. DEEP anticipates most projects to be completed by 2027.

“The funding for these 45 projects represents a significant investment in our state’s outdoor economy, and our trails and proximity to nature are a big part of why Connecticut is an attractive place to live and work,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement.

The announcement said 23 projects occur within or serve Connecticut’s distressed municipalities and environmental justice communities, which will improve equitable access to outdoor recreation.

The following is a list of some of the projects receiving grants under this round of funding:

$270,346 for Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments for planning, preliminary design and outreach for the Kinneytown section of the Naugatuck River Greenway.

$250,000 for the town of Harwinton for planning and design for the extension of the Naugatuck Valley Greenway.

$494,000 for the town of Burlington maintenance for the Burlington section of the Farmington River Trial.

$320,000 for Friends of the Litchfield Community Greenway Inc. for construction for the Bantam connection to the Litchfield Greenway.

$89,744 for the Goshen Land Trust for construction, maintenance, publications, education, and outreach for Trails for All.

$280,000 for the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy for planning and design of NCLC public nature preserves.

$50,000 to the town of Salisbury for planning and design for the Salisbury Railroad Street Multi Modal Pathway project.


Stamford Mill Road bridge closed after steel beams found with 'severe deterioration,' report reveals

Ignacio Laguarda

STAMFORD — A small Stamford bridge on Mill Road that was closed down last week was in "critical condition," with "significant cracking" of the pavement and "severe deterioration" of the steel beams underneath, a construction report states.

“Severe weakening of primary elements is evident with the potential for bridge collapse," the May 11 report from Newington-based consulting engineers Wengell, McDonnell & Costello reads. "Partial or total closure of the structure may be required.”

The condition of the bridge, which is on Mill Road just east of the intersection with Old Long Ridge Road resulted in the closure of Mill Road, Stamford police announced May 29 on social media. 

Traffic will not be allowed to enter the approximately one-mile street at the intersection with Old Long Ridge Road, which means motorists will only be able to access Mill Road by entering through Rock Rimmon Road.

According to police, the closure will be in place for "several months."

City Engineer Lou Casolo wrote in an email that the inspection report was completed as part of an application for grant funding to the state Department of Transportation Local Bridge program.

"Based upon the recommendation in the inspection report to close the bridge (based on the bridge's condition), the bridge was closed," he wrote.

Casolo added that city officials intend to conduct an assessment of the bridge to see if it would be possible to re-open it to one-way alternating traffic until it can be repaired or replaced. 

"The city is in the process of creating a webpage for Mill Road bridge to keep the public informed," Casolo wrote. "The city will also work to provide more signage to better identify the detour route."

The bridge, which was built in 1960 and runs over a small unnamed brook, is about 19 feet wide and is supported by 12-foot steel beams underneath as well as stone abutments on each end.

It had last been inspected on June 24, 2020, according to the report.


Mixed-use apartment project breaks ground in Windsor

Hanna Snyder Gambini

The Residences at Bowfield Green mixed-use development in downtown Windsor is set to take shape as town officials and members of the development team broke ground on the project Monday.

The development by Sachdev Real Estate Development Group and property owner Dr. Mohan Sachdev, priced at more than $20 million, will feature a residential and retail complex on two vacant sites at 109-125 Poquonock Ave., a former car dealership brownfield site that was remediated.

Officials have said Bowfield Green with its 7,000 square feet of first-floor retail space and 77 market-rate apartments above, is a key component to transforming the downtown Windsor area into a transit-oriented development. 

Windsor Economic Development Director Patrick McMahon said the site is ideally situated within walking distance of a 95-acre open space park, and a half-mile to the town green and train station.

Another mixed-use redevelopment project, the Founder’s Square, is set to go vertical this week, town officials said.

The Residences at Bowfield Green will have 28 studio apartments, 41 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom units.

Neill Sachdev, of Sachdev development, said he expects to start taking residential and retail lease applications in early 2025, with completion of the project expected in the fall of 2025.