Gold Star Bridge project to move to next phase
Kimberly Drelich
Crews will soon be gearing up for the next stage of the $900
million construction project to rehabilitate the northern span of the Gold Star
Memorial Bridge between New London and Groton.
In late May, a traffic
crossover went into effect that shifted two northbound lanes onto part of
the southbound span, separated by a barrier from the southbound lanes. Two
northbound lanes are continuing on the northbound span.
The next stage will shift the two northbound lanes from the
right side of the northbound span to the middle, while not making any changes
to the crossover on the southbound span.
On the northbound span, a work zone on either side of the
lanes will allow crews to strengthen steel and replace the deck, project
officials said.
Keith Schoppe, project engineer with the the state
Department of Transportation, Hank Doll and Mike Ossa, assistant resident
engineers at the firm GM2 Associates, and GM2 Public Outreach Coordinator
Krista Margiotta outlined the next stage in an interview last week.
The contractor plans to work from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m.
Saturday to complete the work needed to prepare for the next stage, DOT
spokesperson Eva Zymaris said last week.
After traffic is shifted to the center lanes, the contractor
will begin installing concrete barriers on the right side to complete the Stage
1 configuration, she said. The work will occur at night to ensure the safety of
workers and will take about a month to complete.
"We don’t anticipate traffic impacts to be significant
as this work involves temporary nighttime lane closures," Zymaris said.
Any detours or ramp closures that are needed will be posted
online at the project
website.
They said the traffic on the northbound span currently is in
its "pre-Stage 1" configuration, which has allowed crews to mill and
pave the center lanes so they will be smooth for people to drive on. It also
provided a work zone for a barrier on the left side that is being installed.
The finalized alignment will have two 11-foot lanes with
2-foot shoulders with a barrier on each side, officials said.
Crews will install temporary lighting as well as temporary
fencing to help block the view of the construction work from drivers.
The purpose of this stage is to remove the bridge deck on
both sides, strengthen steel and complete substructure steel work, and then
replace the deck, officials said.
For a significant duration of this stage, the deck portions
on either side will be removed, so there will be exposed steel there, the
project team said.
The stage is designed with two lanes in the center of the
bridge, and work zones on either side, to provide balance for the structure
during the work, they explained.
Zymaris said the Stage 1 deck replacement is anticipated to
begin in the fall and be completed in the spring of 2028.
New London police posted on Monday afternoon an advisory about the
upcoming traffic alignment on its Facebook page and said the "stage shift
is minor and will have little impact to current operations."
After the first stage wraps up, stage two will begin. This
stage entails shifting traffic to the right side of the northbound span, so
work can be completed in the middle of the bridge and the center portion of the
bridge deck can be replaced, project officials said. This stage also will not
entail any traffic changes to the southbound side.
Zymaris said this stage of deck replacement is anticipated
to begin in the spring of 2028 and estimated to be completed in the summer of
2029.
Traffic dashboard available
Ossa said the project team and department are pleased with
how the new traffic crossover and configuration, in place since the end of May,
has been executed and operated.
The biggest challenge was to get Waze, Google Maps and Apple
Maps, on board and direct people to the traffic crossover, rather than the
existing northbound bridge, which they are now doing, he said.
The speed limit was reduced to 45 MPH, and the DOT installed
a speed camera on the New London side before the traffic crossover about a
month ago, with plans to install another once it becomes available, project
officials said.
The DOT also has a new traffic dashboard where people can
view the current speeds on the bridge and I-95 nearby. They can also click to
see a live webcam in certain locations.
The dashboard is available at: https://svr1.jamlogic.com/PublicWebsites/CT_I-95_New_London_Co_0094-0261
The detours have been fairly smooth, Ossa said, and the
project team is working with municipalities to make refinements to prevent
illegal U-turns and other maneuvers drivers are making.
Doll said the northbound traffic in terms of back-ups is the
same as before the project.
But as Electric Boat employees leave work in the afternoon,
the southbound direction sees traffic that builds and backs up onto local
streets, he said.
To improve southbound traffic, Schoppe said, the DOT created
a dedicated on-ramp to the bridge for traffic from Route 12 and Route 184.
The DOT installed signage and posted a video about a
"zipper merge" for traffic from the on-ramp from Bridge Street in the
City of Groton, following complaints about traffic backing up on local roads,
he said. A zipper merge is when drivers takes turns merging into one lane after
reaching the end of the merging lane.
Connecticut spent $2.5M replacing this bridge. Now it needs a $3.4M fix
A public notice by the Connecticut Department of
Transportation about a bridge in Old Saybrook may
be causing residents to do a double take.
The state agency plans
to hold a public meeting Thursday night about a project involving the
bridge that carries Route 154 over Plum Bank Creek — a structure that
was entirely
replaced five years ago at a cost of about $2.5 million.
What’s bringing DOT back to the span?
The replacement bridge’s superstructure, which includes the
deck, is not as high above the water as the old bridge, according to the
agency.
After the replacement bridge was constructed, “a community
member informed CTDOT that access to Plum Bank Creek was limited,” agency
spokesperson Eva Zymaris said. “To meet regulatory requirements and
accommodate recreational access and use of Plum Bank Creek, CTDOT is proposing
to raise the superstructure of the bridge.”
Construction is expected to start in 2028 and cost the state
about $3.4 million.
It is unclear why the replacement bridge was built in a
lower position than the old bridge or whether anyone foresaw the resulting
issue with the water access.
When asked whether there was an oversight during the design
process, Zymaris said the replacement bridge “was designed to meet all
structural and hydraulic requirements.”
But state law and regulations also say that “navigation
within the channel must not be impeded,” she said.
“CTDOT is committed to addressing this concern, utilizing
the most economical approach that has the least impact to the public,” Zymaris
said.
The superstructure will be separated from the substructure
of the bridge and then “hydraulically jacked” to a higher elevation, according
to a project
description by DOT. The roadway and its embankments will also need to be
raised to accommodate the change and match the bridge.
The work will require the road to be closed for about eight
to 10 weeks and will be performed outside the beach season, which runs from
Memorial Day to Labor Day, the project description says. The road may also need
to be closed for two to three weeks before that so overhead utility lines and a
water main can be temporarily relocated.
Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl Fortuna Jr. said he
expects some frustrated residents to show up at DOT’s meeting at 7 p.m.
Thursday. The public meeting will take place at Old Saybrook Town Hall at
302 Main St. and will also be held via Zoom.
The road closure won’t be a major inconvenience for drivers
because a detour will only take them a few miles out of their way, Fortuna
said. But the closure will cut off a “very popular loop” for people who walk,
run or ride bikes, he said.
Still, Fortuna said the town will eventually move on.
“We’ll all live to see another day,” he said.
Middletown rejects plan for more downtown parking despite concerns over lack of spaces
MIDDLETOWN—The common council's rejection of a proposal to
bond $38 million to build a two-level parking structure behind the police
station on Main Street has left some officials surprised or disappointed.
The garage would have created up to 320 new parking spaces
in a city where the lots are full, even as redevelopment surges.
"We are at capacity," Middletown Economic
Development Director Christine Marques told the council at a special meeting
Thursday. "We have nowhere to park cars."
Marques was before the council to explain the outline of the
proposal known as "Option C," which included setting space aside for
a future multi-story apartment complex with it's own underground parking
abutting deKoven Drive. The development would be similar to the
now-stalled Village at Riverside project.
The initial, mixed-use project proposed by Spectra
Construction & Development Corp. in 2022 called for a block-sized,
multilevel housing and retail complex that would include a public square and
pedestrian walkways in full view of the Connecticut River.
However, Republican council member and minority leader Linda
Salafia questioned committing $38 million to a concept plan.
"That's my problem," she said. "You're asking
us to leave this open-ended."
Salafia did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
Following a recess, the council voted 8-3 to reject the
proposal. Earlier in the meeting the council did approve $30 million in bonding
for school renovations and repairs, for which Mayor Gene Nocera expressed
gratitude.
But he also said he was disappointed in the council's
decision to reject the parking proposal rather than send it to voters for
approval.
"Every day, I hear from numerous residents who
are concerned about the lack of adequate parking in our downtown and
surrounding areas," Nocera said in an email Friday. "Addressing that
problem will continue to be one of my priorities, and I remain committed to
doing everything we can to improve our parking situation."
Nocera added that he believes the proposed parking
arcade could have played a vital role in advancing economic development and
enhance the city's tax revenue at a critical downtown site that has been
underutilized and so neglected for nearly a decade because of stalled plans and
uncertainty about its future.
"While the council did not support moving forward with
this particular proposal, I remain committed to working with the council, our
residents, and the business community to explore other options," he said.
"Our goal should be to find a solution that improves parking, advances
economic development, enhances our riverfront, and revitalizes a site with
tremendous potential for Middletown."
Marques also expressed disappointment and surprise because
the need for more parking is a constant subject of discussion in council
committee meetings and business meetings.
"The funding would have enabled us to build a garage
and facilitate residential development. The site as-is is underutilized and an
un-welcoming property in the heart of our downtown," she said in an email
Friday.
Marques added that there are still other plans in the works
for alleviating the parking shortage, including at the 250-space Melilli Plaza.
"The city is currently advertising an RFP for
architectural and engineering services to design a parking deck on a portion of
the parking lot closest to Washington Street," she said. "The parking
deck is expected to create 90 to 100 additional spaces."
For developer Dominick DeMartino, who is currently
redeveloping the former Woolworths department store into a sports
bar and restaurant with rooftop seating, the rejection of the parking
proposal is not alarming.
"As a local developer and investor, I have complete
confidence that the mayor’s office and city council will come up with a
solution. That is a lot of money to spend, and I think they are just
dotting their I's and crossing their T’s," he said. "I give everyone
involved a tremendous amount of credit. This has been a long time in the
making, and everyone wants to make sure it’s done right."
Developer Jake Kapplan, whose group has purchased several buildings and
is renovating them for ground floor businesses and housing on the floors above,
expressed more concern, though, for immediate action.
"Parking is the key for continued economic
progress and quality of life on Main Street. Now more than ever, Main
Street is becoming known as a live work and play community," he said
Monday. "We need more parking, we need it to be as well located as
possible and we need it now."
Plainfield voters weigh $250K legal fight against trash plant
Conor Linskey
Plainfield voters will soon decide whether continuing to
oppose a controversial
trash-to-energy plant is worth a $250,000 legal battle.
Town officials are asking residents to authorize the use of
$250,000 from the town's fund balance to hire attorneys and pursue legal action
against SMART Technology Systems, LLC, the developer behind a proposed
waste-processing facility that has faced widespread opposition in Plainfield.
Town officials hope that by hiring attorneys and pursuing legal action, the
facility will not be built in Plainfield.
The proposal will be the focus of a public informational
meeting and town meeting on Aug. 26 at Plainfield Town Hall. Residents will
then cast ballots on the question during a Sept. 3 referendum that could
determine whether the town's fight against the project moves from public
hearings to the courtroom.
Why the meetings and vote are taking place
The town is holding the meetings and subsequent vote after
residents' continued disapproval of the project.
Plainfield residents have expressed opposition to the plant
for a number of reasons, stating that the facility would cause nearby property
values to drop, create extra traffic, damage the rural character of the area
and cause health conditions such as asthma and COPD.
Residents voiced strong opposition to the project during
an informational meeting on May 7, 2025. Less than a
month later, Plainfield voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposal when it
appeared as a non-binding advisory question on the June 2, 2025,
budget election ballot. The question asked whether voters
supported SMART Technology Systems' proposed municipal solid waste-to-energy
plant in Plainfield. The
town decisively rejected the plant, with 1,148 "no" votes and 125
"yes" votes.
"I think that sends a message loud and clear. We just
don't want it," Plainfield First Selectman Kevin Cunningham said regarding
the outcome of the non-binding advisory question. "And for all the reasons
we talked about before, which is are we worried about PFAS? Are we worried
about all the truck traffic with garbage coming into our town? Are we worried
about the ash? Are we worried about the anaerobic digester making gas and where
is that going to be taken out? How safely?"
Since the facility was first proposed, residents
have placed signs saying "No Trash Plant" throughout the
town. In addition, Plainfield residents created a website about the
facility to inform the public about the project.
About the proposed trash-to-energy plant
The proposed trash-to-energy facility would use
sorting and gasification technology to convert municipal solid waste into
renewable electricity and natural gas. Planned to be located on Norwich Road
and Black Hill Road in Plainfield, the facility aims to reduce reliance on
landfills and traditional waste incinerators.
The plant is designed to process 468,000 tons of trash per
year, including 9,000 tons per week. SMART Technology Systems claims the
project is needed, as Connecticut's existing landfills have limited capacity.
In addition, the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority in Hartford
closed in 2022, removing 2,000 tons of trash processing capacity per day.
According to PlainfieldTrashPlant.org,
a website about the project made by Plainfield residents, the proposed trash
plant remains under active review by state agencies and no final permit
decision has been issued. On Aug. 7, SMART Technology Systems filed
a petition for a declaratory ruling for the construction, maintenance
and operation of the trash plant.
Electric Boat cheers move into new campus at former Crystal Mall
Windy skies and a steady downpour weren’t enough to dampen
spirits in Waterford on Friday morning as local officials, construction workers
and business leaders gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of General
Dynamics Electric Boat’s new campus.
Work on the roughly 800,000 square foot facility, which
will reuse
the former Crystal Mall complex, is well underway. The majority of the mall
was acquired last year, and the remaining tenants moved out of the building in
the spring.
When renovation work is completed, the campus will house
office and software development space as well as facilities for training and
workforce development. Some 4,000 to 5,000 employees are expected to work at
the campus, which is expected to open in 2027.
The facility will make Electric Boat, a defense contractor
responsible for supplying the military with submarines of varying sizes, the
largest employer in Waterford. The company recently celebrated a $76.6 billion contract with the
U.S. Navy, one of the largest shipbuilding contracts ever awarded.
The contract, which comes amid a hiring push for the
company, further cements the need for Electric Boat’s expansion, speakers said
Friday.
“This groundbreaking signifies our long-term commitment in
Connecticut but also in all of you and all the workforce,” said Electric
Boat President Mark Rayha.
But speakers also acknowledged that the campus marks
something even greater for southeastern Connecticut: a new economic
opportunity, one that could usher in a wave of growth and once-in-a-generation
investment in the local workforce.
It’s a new chance for revitalization and commercial activity
in the region, built using a space that supported earlier waves of development.
Now, as renovation work begins, supporters say that the reused mall will become
the backbone of the region’s economic comeback.
“For decades, the Crystal Mall was part of the fabric of our
community. We shopped here, we worked here, we brought our families here,” said
Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule. “Today we aren’t here to talk about what
this property used to be. We’re here to celebrate what it’s about to become.”
Crystal Mall is trying on something new
The mall redevelopment, DECD deputy commissioner Matt
Pugliese noted, is one of the largest reuses of an existing property in the
state. The redevelopment work comes as DECD looks to support projects around
the state that will breathe new life into old buildings, part of a larger
effort.
A place like the Crystal Mall, speakers said, is a natural
fit for this work.
“Malls simply cannot meet the kind of commerce that we see
today in the United States of America,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
“Electric Boat, with typical ingenuity and innovation, is, in effect, putting
new wine in old bottles.”
When completed, the Waterford campus will complement
submarine production efforts by providing additional space for administrative
staff, software developers and new trainees. Submarine production work will
continue in nearby Groton, where Electric Boat’s shipyard is located.
As renovations continue, parts of the Waterford campus will
house temporary training spaces for new employees. A more permanent location on
the campus known as SAIL, or the Shipbuilding Advanced Institute for
Learning, is set to open in the near future.
When fully operational, SAIL is expected to support close to
400 shipbuilders and will also include support for welding, advanced technology
work and additional innovations.
“We’re really celebrating bringing this place back to life,”
said Courtney Murphy, Electric Boat’s director of talent acquisition, workforce
development and compensation. “Seeing this plan take shape and now become
reality is truly inspiring because it is more than just a groundbreaking. It’s
the start of a new chapter in how we grow, train and support the shipbuilders
who carry our mission forward.”
The growth comes as the company continues a larger
expansion, including hiring a projected 8,000 workers this year, more than
double what it hired in 2025.
And in a region that has long struggled to find stable
economic footing, the hope is that Electric Boat’s growth will have effects
that will be felt across Connecticut more broadly.
“This is just going to be one of those milestones that our
children and grandchildren are going to experience,” said U.S. Rep. Joe
Courtney. “It’s a big deal.”
A deeper economic shift
The hoped-for economic transformation, coming to a region
that has long relied on the manufacturing industry, is expected
to bring significant change, and thousands of new workers, to the area.
Local officials are gearing up to meet the demand and
figuring out how to support the workers expected to flood into the region in
the coming years. The region is facing a housing shortage, with low stock and
rising costs squeezing the market further. The area needs thousands of new
homes to support the expected workforce.
Still, the hope is that the influx will usher in a larger
wave of economic activity in the region, rippling out from Electric Boat and
driving increases in tourism,
recreational activities and other industries.
Electric Boat says that for now, its focus is on meeting its
hiring and workforce goals.
Local officials, meanwhile, say they are prepared to do
their part as the region looks ahead. Hundreds of new housing units are in
development, with more on the way.
“We’ll support responsible housing. We’ll invest in
infrastructure. We’ll continue to work closely with DECD. We’ll support our
businesses and schools,” Brule said. “Growth isn’t about getting bigger; it’s
about getting it right.”