July 8, 2024

CT Construction Digest Monday July 8, 2024

I-91 redevelopment brings O&G Industries, CT's largest privately held construction firm, to Wallingford

Christian Metzger

WALLINGFORD — O&G Industries, the largest privately held construction firm in Connecticut, is moving into a new 9,992-square-foot office space at 900 Northrop Road, the firm announced recently. 

The office is within close proximity to I-91 North and South. The move comes after the state awarded O&G a major contract to carry out the reconfiguration project of I-91,1-691-and Route 15 Interchange in Meriden. 

Choyce Peterson Commercial Real Estate Specialists carried out the lease negotiations on behalf of O&G and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. 

To better coordinate the construction efforts, the Torrington-based firm sought out a centrally located office much closer to the interstates where they would be housing their Heavy Highways Division staff overseeing the project until its completion.

The office won’t be used to house any of the group’s construction equipment and the space is set aside so that the project team might be closer and manage the work more efficiently, officials said. Upon moving in, multiple suites will be redesigned to accommodate the new office’s layout requirements, as well as a potential lease extension and expansion option, should O&G look to pursue nearby projects. 

While there is no guarantee that O&G would make the location a permanent office, according to Vice President of Choyce Peterson Charlene O’Connell, the firm could end up staying in Wallingford long-term as it pursues several more projects within the area. 

“Securing dedicated office space for state contractors proves mutually beneficial for both O&G and the local economy. Not only does it provide a comfortable environment for the construction team, but it also helps local office building owners fill vacancies," O’Connell said.

O&G is the main contractor awarded with carrying out the second phase of the state’s $500 million highway redevelopment project, focused on an area which studies have found is one of the state’s most congested roadways. One particularly notorious segment of the interchange, the southbound, one-lane off-ramp connecting I-91 with Route 15, routinely causes traffic to back up by as much as a mile. 

The work on the second and third phases of the project are expected to last until 2029, with work beginning early next year focusing on restructuring the northbound and southbound interchanges between I-91 and the other highways. New interchanges will be added between I-91 and Route 15, with existing exit ramps widened and redeveloped to free up flow of traffic. The work will take place along a 4.2 mile span, primarily around I-91. 

O&G has worked with  the state DOT on other road-paving projects primarily along the western half of the state, with a fleet of over 1,900 rollers, pavers, and tractors. Overall the company seemed satisfied with the new space and moving into it in the near future. 

Vice President of O&G, John Rouleau, complemented O’Connell for securing what he felt was an ideal space for their operations.

“Once again, she worked tirelessly to negotiate favorable lease terms on our behalf, securing office space ideally suited for our current needs while ensuring flexibility to accommodate any future requirements. Her efforts have provided us with a workspace solution that aligns perfectly with our objectives.”


Amtrak Awards $1.3B Contract to Construct New Moveable Rail Bridge in Connecticut

AMTRAK

Amtrak will soon begin construction of a new, $1.3 billion Connecticut River Bridge between the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme following the award of a design-bid-build contract to O&G/Tutor Perini, a joint venture of two major construction firms.

The passenger rail company's agreement with the building team comes on the heels of recent permit approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

The new Connecticut River Bridge will improve reliability and reduce delays for Amtrak's intercity services, the Connecticut Shore Line East commuter service, and freight operators along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), America's busiest rail corridor.

It will be primarily funded by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), due to a $826.64 million federal grant awarded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); Amtrak and the state of Connecticut will foot the remainder of the project's cost.

It is but one of several passenger rail improvement efforts in the state, including the Devon Bridge and Walk Bridge replacement projects undertaken by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).

"Today's milestone brings us one step closer to putting shovels in the ground and kicking off construction for this major project," Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner noted in a June 28 news release.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Biden-Harris Administration and the FRA for the funding necessary to advance the project from planning to construction. Additionally, Gardner thanked Connecticut's two Democratic U.S. senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, along with Gov. Ned Lamont (D), and CTDOT "for their continued support and partnership."

"The Connecticut River Bridge is an essential part of the busy Northeast Corridor rail line, but in dire need of repair," Blumenthal said in the news release. "I am thrilled the work to replace this century-old bridge is moving forward — ensuring improved rail service is on the way — and I will keep fighting for federal resources to improve Connecticut's aging infrastructure."

In a statement from his office, Murphy added, "Investing in the future of rail in Connecticut is a no-brainer — it makes life easier for travelers and commuters, boosts economic growth, creates good-paying jobs and helps fight the climate crisis. Thanks to funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this $1.3 billion investment to replace the aging Connecticut River Bridge will keep our railways safe, cut travel times and improve Amtrak's rail service for Connecticut riders."

The current 1,500-ft.-long Connecticut River Bridge opened in 1907 and is one of several moveable rail spans along the NEC.

Today, it serves more than 50 daily Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela trains, the CTrail Shore Line East service, and various freight trains. However, the unreliability of the aging bridge, due to its failure to open and close consistently, results in cascading delays to rail and maritime traffic.

New Moveable Bridge Will Help to Modernize NEC

The O&G/Tutor Perini joint venture will work with Amtrak at the Connecticut River site to construct a new two-track, moveable bridge to replace the existing dual-track structure between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, located about midway between New York City and Providence, R.I.

The proposed moveable bridge will be located immediately south of the old span, and feature modern tracks, signals, catenary, power, communication and other supporting rail infrastructure.

It also is designed to safely support trains moving at a maximum operating speed of 70 mph, a 55 percent increase from today's maximum speed of 45 mph.

Maritime navigation and safety in the river also will improve due to additional vertical clearance compared with the existing bridge.

The new bridge design is 100 percent complete, according to Amtrak, and construction is set to begin late this summer or early fall.

The rail service previously awarded a construction management contract to AECOM, which will assist the rail company with management of the construction joint venture, document control, schedule and budget oversight, and community outreach support.

The NEC rail bridge project in Connecticut is key to Amtrak's vision of a new era of passenger rail, which includes investments into modern trains, stations, tunnels, bridges and other critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the customer experience, improve safety and reliability, and expand capacity to serve more future customers.

"The new Connecticut River Bridge will serve the entire Northeast Corridor. It will help realize Gov. Ned Lamont's goal of improved rail connectivity north to Boston and south to Washington, D.C.," explained CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

"The new structure, built by Connecticut's building trades, will improve safety, reliability and increase operating speeds along the line," he added. "CTDOT is grateful for the continued support of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration, the advocacy of our congressional delegation, and collaboration of our partners at Amtrak."


Naugatuck River Greenway Trail to expand with $5.7M federal grant: 'Transformative project'

Emily M. Olson

Funding to continue the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail into more towns in Litchfield County was announced last week by U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5.  

The $5.725 million grant, from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity fund, was awarded to the Central Naugatuck Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization for planning and designing a segment of the Naugatuck River trail, according to a statement. 

In 2017, Torrington's portion of the trail began from Franklin Street to Bogue Road, following the Naugatuck River past the Sullivan Senior Center. Since then, the city has used grants to continue the walking trail, while making street and sidewalk improvements. Those projects connected to the trail were completed in 2022

The non-motorized, multi-use trail being developed will follow the river for 44 miles through parts of the Fifth District, including Litchfield, Harwinton, Thomaston, Watertown, and Waterbury, according to Hayes. 

The $5,725,699 grant, Hayes said, is more than the $5.1 million in funds she, along with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, requested from the U.S. Department of Transportation earlier this year. 

“I am delighted to announce over $5.7 million in federal funding to expand the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail, a project that I have long supported,” said Hayes. “This funding is an example of our local, state, and federal officials coming together to strengthen the economic and environmental future of the region.” 

The grant funding will be used to complete final design, environmental review, and preparation of construction documentation of a roughly 6-mile section between the northern point of downtown Thomaston to the southerly point of downtown Naugatuck, connecting through downtown Waterbury and Watertown. 

“The NRG Trail is a transformative project that will enhance our region's connectivity, promote sustainable transportation, and provide residents with greater access to recreational opportunities. This funding not only acknowledges the importance of our vision for a more integrated and resilient community but also empowers us to take substantial strides towards realizing it,” said Rick Dunne, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments executive director.  

The Torrington Trails Network in Torrington and the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway in Winsted, which attract walkers, runners and cyclists, are an example of the continuing efforts to expand fitness and outdoor recreation activities in Litchfield County. The Torrington Trails network recently received funding to add to its trail network on Red Mountain Road and Norfolk Road.

Winsted is working on obtaining easements on Winsted Road, to continue the Grossman greenway from Winsted Road to recreation areas on Rowley Street.

The Naugatuck River Greenway Trail will eventually link Torrington to Derby, and was estimated to prompt more than $85 million in consumer spending annually and create 2,800 jobs in New Haven and Litchfield counties, according to a study from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, the University of Connecticut and the Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee, according to the council website.


Data centers could transform local CT communities, but some officials are hesitant

Luther Turmelle

Efforts to improve Connecticut's position as a potential host for data centers appear to be stuck in neutral at the moment, despite an increased focus on artificial intelligence and how the two are intertwined.

Depending upon the information source, Connecticut currently has between 16 and 19 data centers. In order to boost data center activity in the state, Connecticut officials enacted a law in 2021 to provide incentives for the developers of the facilities.

But to date, only one company - Cigna - has taken advantage of the incentives, according to Jim Watson, a spokesman for the Department of Economic and Community Development.

The incentive agreements are for either 20- or 30-year terms, depending on size and location of the data center. The incentives include sales and use tax exemptions for goods and services purchased by the data center, property tax exemptions and exemption from any future financial transactions taxes. To qualify for the 20-year term of incentives, data centers must make a qualified investment in the site of $50 million if the site is in an opportunity zone or $200 million if it is not. For a 30-year term, the investment must be $200 million in an opportunity zone and $400 million elsewhere.

Fred Carstensen, who is a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Business and the director of the state Center for Economic Analysis, is troubled by the lack of emphasis state officials have on data centers.

"We don't have a cohesive strategy for this (data centers)," Carstensen said. "Connecticut was the most important state in the industrial revolution. But we've lost our mojo."

A good start at fixing that problem, he said, could start with strong state support for a 1.2 million square foot data center that is being proposed adjacent to the Millstone nuclear power plant in Waterford. The developer of the data center project, New England Edge, and Millstone owner Dominion Energy have signed a host fee agreement with the town, promising to pay a fee of $231 million over 30 years in lieu of property taxes.

But since the host agreement was signed in March 2023, the progression toward making the data center a reality has slowed. The data center developer has not yet to submitted plans for the facility to Waterford officials for review, according to Jonathan Mullen, the town's planning director.

The company also needs approval from the Connecticut Siting Council. The Siting Council decided earlier this year that it was premature to issue a ruling decline to issue a ruling on any potential effects of the project on the environment and the provision of "adequate and reliable public utility services" from the power plant.

Once completed, the data center would create 200 permanent technology jobs, New England Edge officials have testified to lawmaker.

Carstensen said the New England Edge data center is something "the governor ought to be pushing very hard for."

In addition to the permanent technology jobs the data center would create, he said another benefit is the consistent revenue stream that a power supply deal with New England Edge would given Millstone and Dominion. That's important because the continued operation of the nuclear plant is considered a critical element of the state's goals to reduce carbon emissions.

Carstensen said officials in Massachusetts have taken a much more aggressive approach toward data centers, Massachusetts Gov. Kerry Healey put $100 million in a fund to create an AI hub in that state, he said.

But Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced in late May that the state was committing $100 million over the next five years with the goal of matching private dollars to build out the state's tech sector with project funding.

State Sen. Norman Needleman, D-Essex, co-chairman of the Energy and Technology Committee, is among those state officials who are concerned about the impact that a power-intensive data center located adjacent to Millstone would have on Connecticut's energy security.

At one point during the legislative session held earlier this year, legislative committees were considering a bill that would have authorized a study on the impact that the New England Edge data center and any others that might follow would have on the region's electric grid, Needleman said. But the legislation authorizing the study failed to advance to a vote by the full General Assembly,  he said.

Needleman said he is cognizant of the impact the Waterford data center project could have on Connecticut's economy.

"I'm all for the economic benefits, but not at the expense of the (electric) grid," he said. "We certainly don't want to lose (electric generating) capacity at Millstone."

To date, the operator of the regional electric grid, ISO-New England, has not taken a position on New England Edge's plans in Connecticut.

"The developer has not put forward a formal proposal to the ISO, and as such no project study has been initiated," said Mary Cate Colapietro, a spokeswoman for the grid operator. " If and when the developer submits a formal proposal, the ISO would then conduct a study of the project. The exact nature of that study would depend on a variety of items that are unclear at this time, including exactly how the project could connect to the grid, the demand flexibility, and whether additional generation and/or storage would be part of the project."

Daniel O'Keefe, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, told lawmakers during a legislative hearing in March that the time to act is now because "it is in the states and communities where these data centers are ultimately built that the greatest economic benefits will accrue."

"We need that to happen here, in Connecticut  and there is a limited window of opportunity in which to act," O'Keefe told lawmakers.

Connecticut is not the only place where technology companies are looking to locate data centers near nuclear plants. 

Amazon Web Services announced plans in March for a $650 million data center campus next to the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear power plant located in central Pennsylvania.

"DECD recommends that instead of studying the impact of data centers on the grid, the state instead study ways to support data centers on our grid to leverage the greatest economic benefit they enable," O'Keefe said. State-of-the art computing power is especially critical to the financial service sector, which is one of Connecticut main engines for economic growth, he said.

The amount of data center capacity that is under construction in primary markets around the country so far this year has increased by 46 percent over the first  half of 2023, according to a report recently released by Trepp, a New York City-based data and analysis firm. But demand remains greater than supply, according to Trepp officials, with lessees of data centers now often pre-leasing space 18 to 36 months in advance, an increase over the previous norm of 6 to 12 months.

Despite the increase in data center construction, vacancy rates have fallen to record lows in some major markets.

While new data activity is becoming quite brisk, a project to create a data center at a former Stanley Works factory in New Britain that broke ground in July 2018 is still nowhere near completion, according to city officials.

"Connecticut's competitive advantage is our highly skilled workforce, working on the forefront of research and development and technological innovation," O'Keefe said. "We can not afford to have them built first elsewhere, as these new computing technologies are important for our economic future."


Hamden's High Meadows site plans show more than 200 apartments and 64 condos

Austin Mirmina

HAMDEN — Plans for the 50-acre High Meadows property on Hartford Turnpike have finally begun to take shape after years of debate over the future use of the long-vacant site.

Dakota Partners, Inc., Massachusetts-based developer, proposed to build 202 apartments, some of them affordable, and 68 condominiums while keeping about 22 acres of the property as open space.

Owned by the state, High Meadows once was home to a boys’ residential treatment center, which closed in 2009.

The state offered to sell the property to Hamden for $1.3 million. Instead of buying it, the town issued a request for proposals that carried an asking price of $1.5 million for the property, allowing Hamden to profit $200,000 from the sale. 

Officials said an advisory committee received applications from three developers and ultimately chose Dakota, whose proposal prioritized the preservation of open space – something residents had called for during community discussions

Dakota's proposed development would include four apartment buildings with a total of 161 market-rate rental units and 41 rental units that are affordable for people earning between 60 percent and 89 percent of the Area Median Income. Of the 202 apartments, 31 would be studios with six affordable; 93 would be one-bedroom with 20 affordable; 69 would be two-bedroom with 13 affordable; and seven would be three-bedroom with two affordable, plans show.

For fiscal year 2023, Hamden's AMI was $111,900, according to the Department of Housing & Urban Development's income limit database

The developer's plans, which still need to be approved by the Hamden Legislative Council and Planning and Zoning Commission, also call for 34 duplexes that would yield 68 for-sale condo units.

The complex would feature "significant common greenspace" with walking trails, as well as a swimming pool, fitness center, community room, pickle ball courts, a playground, fire pits and grills, the proposal states. Some of those amenities would be offered inside a new clubhouse included in the plans.

Some of the land that Dakota has pledged to preserve as open space could be transferred to the Hamden Land Conversation Trust, officials said.

The project would be built in three phases, the proposal states. Phase one, which includes the construction of the four apartment buildings, would cost about $67.7 million. The condos would be built in phases two and three, but Dakota did not say how much those efforts would cost.

Construction is expected to start in August 2025, according to a schedule posted on the Hamden Economic and Neighborhood Development's website.

The redevelopment, Dakota said, would complement the existing neighborhood while also building on the "growing need to create housing opportunities for all residents." The 41 affordable units likely would bring Hamden's affordable housing stock right around the state's goal of 10 percent for municipalities.

The housing complex, if approved, would generate "substantial" tax revenue for the town, boosting its grand list and revitalizing a parcel that has sat mostly vacant for 15 years, said Erik Johnson, Hamden's economic development director.

While some residents have expressed support for the project, others have raised concerns over the number of units being built and the effects the high density will have on traffic conditions on Hartford Turnpike, Johnson said. Dakota was not required to submit traffic studies as part of its pitch to the advisory committee. 

Some residents also have questioned whether the community will negatively affect town services or increase educational costs, according to Johnson.

Dakota has more than 1,400 completed units and a few thousand more in development or pre-development.

The company, based in Waltham, Mass., has spearheaded several development projects in Connecticut, including the historic Judd and Root Building in Hartford; Columbus Commons in downtown New Britain, home to 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments; Cedar Pointe, a $29.4 million apartment complex in Newington; and New Milford's Barton Commons, an apartment complex with affordable units.

This story has been updated to reflect the breakdown of units for the market-rate and affordable apartments.


How CT plans to memorialize a historic Farmington River dam after demolishing it

Natasha Sokoloff

AVON — In preparation for the potential removal of the Collins Company Lower Dam on the Farmington River, finding a way to preserve the dam's rich history is at the forefront of the state's efforts.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is working on a plan to demolish the now-obsolete dam and open up the river for fish passage. But project officials must contend with the historical aspects and impacts of any potential removal, which they discussed at a public information meeting in Avon on July 2.Top of Form

In the 1900s, the dam provided waterpower for the Collins Company, a world-renowned axe factory. But after the manufacturing company shuttered in the 1960s, ownership of both the upper and lower dams was donated to the state, and the lower dam has remained unused since.

Despite its languishing state, the State Historic Preservation Office has determined that the entire dam complex, including the gatehouse, raceway, and powerhouse, is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. And for the dam removal project, which has construction costs estimated at $5 million, DEEP has to comply with state regulations and go through the federal regulatory process just as any other entity would, said Ramona Goode, the project manager and state dams sanitary engineer for DEEP Water Planning and Management Division, at the meeting Tuesday.

Because of that, dam removal efforts must operate under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which is essentially a federal process for preservation, said Matthew Spigelman, archaeologist and project manager from ACME Heritage Consultants LLC, at the meeting.

"It's part of the mid-century questioning of, what should we save, and how should we remember and study what we can't save?" he said.

Both DEEP and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, which is funding the project and serving as the lead federal agency for it, have been consulting with the state's preservation office for the last few years to ensure the proposed dam removal is in line with the National Historic Preservation Act.

And at the recent public meeting, state officials and consultants working on the project said they have begun to come up with potential ways to mitigate any adverse historical impacts of removal and memorialize the dam so the project can move forward in the federal regulatory process. 

The first step in developing mitigation, Spigelman said, consisted of brainstorming methods of counteracting the negative effect itself of removing the dam and potentially losing a piece of history. Project officials presented at the meeting possible options for this, referencing strategies that have been used successfully at other dam removals and  projects of similar magnitude.

One of the possible mitigation actions would mean installing interpretive signage on the west bank of the Farmington River, providing historical background on the Collins Manufacturing Company and the role that the Lower Dam played in the industrial history and landscape of the region.

"Interpretive signage allows for really telling a bigger story," Spigelman said, "it's a way to preserve and present in a public setting, the larger context of the dam itself and then the records of the dam."

Another method would be to salvage and preserve mechanical components, which would mean taking a physical piece of the industrial heritage, such as a water wheel or gate mechanism, and showcase it with interpretive panels or in a local institution, Spigelman said.

There's also the possibility for documenting the Collins Company Lower Dam complex to the standards of the Historic American
Engineering Record through large-format photography, a historic narrative, and measured drawings, said Bruce Harvey, historian and photographer with Harvey Research and Consulting.

"These memories are embedded in landscapes. They're embedded in buildings," he said. And when those go away, its essential to find other ways to retain those memories, which is the exact function of the HAER and its associated components of the Historic American Building Survey and Historic American Landscape Survey, serving as a massive collection of documentation, Harvey said.

This would work to preserve the dam's history in an archivally stable format, and would be curated and publicly accessible in the Library of Congress.

"It helps to create this source for a public memory," Harvey said.

These methods are among the possibilities for what the dam's historical preservation could look like in the future, and further consultation and public input is still underway, project officials said.

Ultimately, NOAA would enter into a memorandum of agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to resolve the adverse effects of the proposed dam removal, and eventually implement them.

Goode had previously said that the goal was for construction to start within this year, but that is all dependent on how long the permitting and regulatory process takes, which is hard to say.