CT Construction Digest Wednesday November 11, 2026

CTDOT looking for ways to improve safety and commuter traffic on I-95. Here’s some options

Sean Krofssik

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is researching ways to make travel through the Interstate 95 corridor between Fairfield and Bridgeport easier.

At the I-95 Fairfield and Bridgeport Mobility Study open house last month hosted by the CTDOT, experts discussed options and presented ideas to improve safety, mobility, operations and multimodal needs. Some concepts discussed include massive projects, such as a potential tunnel on I-95.

“We wanted to leave really no stone unturned when we’re developing concepts like this. And that means exploring really transformational ideas like putting portions of I-95 underground in a tunnel or lowering and covering sections of the highway,” said JJ Samus, executive vice president of transportation at GM2, a construction management company.

“Beyond improving transportation, ideas like this can really help reconnect communities. It can help strengthen local roadway networks and also potentially create opportunities for economic development,” Samus added. “But solving these problems and all the challenges on the corridor don’t always need to be transformational to make a huge difference.”

Top Videos See What It Takes to Turn a High-School Athlete Into a Business

Other targeted strategies to provide relief for commuters and address congestion issues and safety challenges without the investment of a tunnel include reducing weaving, improving merging in existing operations, increasing spacing between interchanges and improving safety.

Samus suggested that the use of a “part-time shoulder” to provide extra capacity during congested times or a collector distributor system are tools that could be used to keep traffic moving and reduce conflicts of cars entering and exiting the highway.

Samus said another strategy being explored is “widening in certain areas to provide a more consistent number of lanes throughout the entirety of I-95” between Exits 19 and 28 as well as “reducing unnecessary lane drops and transitions.”

Other examples of strategies to improve traffic flow would include looking at changes on Route 8 North in Bridgeport, where vehicles coming from I-95 South could continue on their own lane rather than immediately merging, causing a conflict point. Also on Route 8 South in Bridgeport, the study explored the idea of “allowing vehicles entering I-95 to continue in their own lane rather than merging immediately.”

Samus said that lane would continue to Exit 26 at Wordin Avenue to reduce weaving conflicts and traffic flow.

In Fairfield between Exits 21 and 22, the experts explored placing a furnish road system that could create “direct local connections between Round Hill Road and Mill Plain Road that don’t exist today.”

“This would improve local connectivity while reducing the need for shorter trips to use I-95, which allows the traffic to move more efficiently on the interstate,” Samus said.

Samus said experts have “explored larger collector distributor systems” along I-95 North.

“This approach provides separate lanes for vehicles to enter and exit the freeway while allowing the through traffic to continue through with fewer lane changes and less disruption from emerging vehicles,” Samus said.

Samus said the study also explored ways to improve the individual interchanges not on the mainline where there is a lot of backup. Those improvements can include new ramp connections, the reconfiguration of existing interchanges and adding longer acceleration and deceleration lanes to improve safety, traffic flow and accessibility between I-95 and the surrounding roadway network.

Some examples of that include relocating the entrance ramp between Exits 19 and 20 on I-95 to improve visibility and provide more room for merging. Also being considered is changing the existing interchange to improving access to Route 1.

On I-95 at Exit 23, experts have discussed a more comprehensive approach to simplifying the existing interchange and improve connections to Route 1.

“By consolidating these ramps, it would really improve intersection operations, and we could potentially improve traffic flow, safety and access throughout the area and the surrounding roadway network as well,” Samus said.

At Exit 24, a single point urban interchange would bring all entering and exiting traffic together at one central signalized intersection at Chambers Street in Fairfield.

“This approach could better control how traffic moves between I-95 and Route 1, which would reduce conflicts on the surrounding streets and also improve traffic flow on I-95,” Samus said.

Also at Exit 24, another concept discussed was a diamond exchange, which would “reorganize the ramps and reduce the weaving conflicts and simplify the access,” Samus said. “This demonstrates the different kinds of approaches that we’re considering to improve safety and operations.”

Samus also discussed improving surrounding and local roadway networks along I-95, including signal improvements, additional turning lanes and intersection modifications to improve local mobility and safety. This is an effort to keep drivers from using I-95 for a local trip and improve traffic flow.

Phase 1 of the study and Mobility Analysis were completed in early 2026. Phase 2 is underway and will continue through 2027.

DOT Route 25 roadwork in Trumbull expected to reduce multiple lanes of traffic

Cassandra Day

TRUMBULL — The state’s transportation agency is working on a project that would, in part, reduce one lane in both directions of travel on Route 25 in Trumbull.

The work will take place between the intersection of Route 111 and the Twin Brooks Pequonnock Trail overpass, according to the state Department of Transportation, which says the project spans about 3.7 miles along Route 25.

Construction will also include pavement improvement, the DOT said, and full-depth roadway reconstruction on Route 25, as well as milling and overlaying on all ramps at Exit 6. The goal is to improve roadside safety, according to the DOT. 

Short-term off-peak detour routes will be implemented should ramps need to be closed for construction activities, according to the DOT.

The schedule estimates design will be complete in summer 2030, with construction anticipated to start that fall. Progress depends on the project being accepted, availability of funding, and receipt of any required right-of-way and environmental permits, the DOT said. 

The public may share concerns or feedback by contacting principal engineer Sebastian Cannamela at 860-594-2698 or sebastian.cannamela@ct.gov. Project 0144-0202 should be referenced.

Connecticut once charged drivers to use its highways. Why the tolls ended

Brianna Gurciullo

A group of residents charged with studying the property tax system in Connecticut recently revived the idea of bringing tolls back to highways within the state.

The Connecticut Citizens’ Assembly recommended the return of tolls, arguing that the money could be used to fund certain transportation expenses, which would then allow the state to direct other revenue toward property tax relief. But the group acknowledged that the proposal has hurdles on both the state and federal level.

Tolls were once a common sight on some of the state’s highways.

Here’s what happened.

The long and winding toll road

Dozens of private corporations built hundreds of miles of toll roads in Connecticut in the late 1700s and early 1800s, according to ConnecticutHistory.org. The state’s highway department took over the roads in the early 1900s.

During the 20th century, tolls operated on the Connecticut Turnpike, the Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway as well as on highway bridges in the Hartford area and southeastern Connecticut, according to a 2009 report by the Office of Legislative Research.

The Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways, which are part of Route 15 and stretch from Greenwich to Meriden, were built in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Connecticut Turnpike, extending from Greenwich to East Lyme to Killingly, was built in the 1950s. Sections of the highway were later designated as parts of Interstate 95 and Interstate 395.

All roads lead away from tolls

In the 1980s, the state legislature increasingly heard calls to eliminate tolls, including from a grassroots group called Banish All Tolls, which was largely made up of Fairfield County residents, according to the Office of Legislative Research’s report.

Residents said tolls disproportionately burdened commuters in some parts of the state and added to congestion; that forcing vehicles to stop at toll plazas resulted in wasted fuel, noise and pollution; and that the toll plazas themselves created safety hazards.

Plus, the state couldn’t use federal funding to pay for improvements on its tolled roads.

On Jan. 19, 1983, a tractor-trailer crashed into several vehicles at a toll plaza in Stratford, killing seven people. The deadly crash “is considered by many to have been the event that tipped the balance toward toll removal,” according to the OLR report.

The end of a toll era

By the early 1980s, tolls on multiple highway bridges had already closed, the OLR report says. In 1983, state lawmakers mandated the closure of the tolls on the Connecticut Turnpike and the bridges in the Hartford area.

Because Connecticut made an agreement with the federal government to remove tolls on the turnpike, federal funds began to flow to reconstruction projects on the highway, and the state received emergency funding to replace the Mianus River Bridge after it collapsed on June 28, 1983, according to the report.

In 1986, the state legislature ordered the tolls to be closed on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways. The last time a highway toll was paid in Connecticut was on April 28, 1989, at the Charter Oak Bridge.

All tolled out

State officials have studied and debated the idea of reintroducing tolls multiple times over the years.

When Gov. Ned Lamont first ran successfully for governor in 2018, he said he supported tolls for only trucks. After he entered office, he made a push to toll all vehicles on major highways, saying it would generate significantly more revenue for transportation improvements, before eventually falling back to a truck-only plan that included certain bridges.

But he was unable to secure enough votes from fellow Democrats in the state legislature to enact any of those proposals. Like in the 1980s, a grassroots group, No Tolls CT, played a role in the debate.

There hasn’t been any momentum for a toll proposal since.

CT Construction Digest Tuesday November 10, 2026

Despite headwinds, Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind come fully online

BROOKE KUSHWAHA/The New Bedford Light

Two of the country’s first large-scale offshore wind farms are now fully operational, the developers announced this week, promising to power a combined 750,000 homes in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Vineyard Wind became fully operational on Oct. 29, spokesperson Craig Gilvarg confirmed in an email to The Light Friday. On Thursday, another project, Revolution Wind, announced it had also come fully online after three years of construction.

Both projects finished installing their wind turbines earlier this year, Vineyard Wind in March and Revolution Wind in September. The new milestone means that all of the projects’ turbines are fully functional and capable of delivering power to the grid.

Both projects also faced considerable stops and starts from an adversarial federal government, including an attempt last month to pull permitting for Revolution Wind after the project had already been completed.

Green energy advocates celebrated the milestone, which they said would eliminate 1.6 million metric tons of carbon pollution annually — the equivalent of taking 325,000 cars off the road.

“A fully operational Vineyard Wind means New England families have another clean, affordable, local source of energy being delivered to their homes through the coming winter season,” Conservation Law Foundation Staff Attorney Anxhela Mile said in a statement Friday. “Federal and state leaders should be preparing to build out more of these projects to help lower energy costs and keep our air clean.” Vineyard Wind, a 62-turbine wind farm roughly 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, delivers power to Massachusetts. Revolution Wind, a 65-turbine wind farm south of Block Island, delivers power to Rhode Island and Connecticut. The projects are key to the states’ clean-energy goals, given New England’s lack of open space for large-scale solar or onshore wind projects.

Although both projects just became fully operational, both have been delivering power to the grid for much longer, albeit at a reduced capacity.

Vineyard Wind produced 336,382 megawatt-hours between July and September of this year, according to recently released Federal Energy Regulatory Commission data. The Light’s analysis finds that’s enough to power approximately 193,300 Massachusetts homes. The project’s developer says it will power 400,000 homes once fully operational.

Revolution Wind is on a similar track. The project delivered 314,321 megawatt-hours between July and September of this year, roughly 22,000 megawatt-hours less than Vineyard Wind. The developer says it will power 350,000 homes once fully operational. Averages don’t tell the full story, however. Roger Williams University engineering professor Gordon Stewart cautioned that wind energy is cyclical and generally less predictable than other forms of energy. For example, power generation is generally expected to peak in the winter months when winds are stronger, and slump again in the summer. This pattern held true for Vineyard Wind, which produced approximately 410,400 megawatt-hours from October through December 2025 compared to 323,600 from April through June 2026.

But just because there is wind doesn’t mean that all the turbines are capturing it — and private companies tend to be secretive about engineering setbacks. Vineyard Wind, for example, took 7½ months to go fully online after completing construction, compared to 1½ months for Revolution Wind.

Vineyard Wind’s lawsuit against GE Vernova earlier this year seemed to blame the turbine supplier for the project’s struggles to reach full capacity. In May, Vineyard Wind said in court filings and hearings that the project was producing “less than half of its expected capacity,” and that 36 of the 62 turbines were not spinning. The lawsuit sought to prevent GE Vernova from exiting its contract to service and maintain the turbines before final commissioning work was complete. The parties settled in September after GE Vernova withdrew its notice of contract termination.

For this reason, next quarter’s data — as New England enters its windiest season — will be all the more revealing, Stewart said.

“It’ll be interesting to see if (the projects) are fully operational,” Stewart said. “And I think we’ll be able to see that.”

Capacity a key factor

Even when everything goes right, wind farms aren’t expected to operate at 100% efficiency — no energy project is. As Stewart calculated for a previous Light analysis of Vineyard Wind’s output data, the developer’s estimate that the project will power 400,000 homes roughly corresponds to a 50% capacity factor; in other words, the wind farm is only going to be 50% efficient on average.

Most offshore wind farms have a capacity factor between 40% and 50%. Onshore wind farms tend to have a lower capacity factor, because the turbines are smaller and wind is generally less powerful on land, Stewart said. Nuclear power plants, meanwhile, have a capacity factor of 90% or more, and coal plants average around 42%, according to federal data.

Vineyard Wind’s Gilvarg did not answer The Light’s question about how many turbines were operational as of Sept. 1. Federal data indicates that Vineyard Wind operated at closer to 25% capacity this past year as it worked to get up and running.

“My gut feeling looking at these numbers is that roughly half of their turbines were operating at any one time,” Stewart said.

A third completed wind project, South Fork Wind, 35 miles east of Long Island, offers a glimpse into Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind’s potential future. The 12-turbine wind farm, completed in 2024, generated roughly one-third of the power that Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind produced despite being one-fifth the size. That means South Fork Wind reached a capacity factor nearly double that of the two in-progress projects.

Walmart revives plans for new Waterbury store near Cheshire town line, I-84

Michael Puffer

Walmart is again pursuing plans to build a store on a nearly 20-acre site off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, on the city line with Cheshire.

A Nov. 6 filing in Waterbury’s land records confirms the retail giant’s renewed interest in the property at 3800 East Main St., which was previously considered for a Walmart supercenter and, later, an Amazon last-mile delivery center.

The filing, submitted by a limited liability company that owns the property, seeks an extension of traffic easement rights needed for the Walmart development. The LLC traces to Massachusetts-based real estate development and investment firm Shearwater Cos.

The filing states that Wal-Mart Stores East LP intends to enter into a ground lease for the site and identifies an access route to a new Walmart store.

The filing is the clearest confirmation yet of Walmart’s renewed interest in the property.

Waterbury Economic Development Director Joseph McGrath said he has been working with Walmart representatives for about two years on plans to develop the property.

“I’m thrilled to hear they are moving ahead,” McGrath said Monday, after being informed of the recent land records filing. “It will be grand list growth through new development of a vacant lot. It’s a win-win situation.”

A Walmart spokesperson, in an email response to an inquiry about the site, did not confirm or den

“We’re always looking for opportunities to expand and better serve communities,” reads the statement “We have no additional information to share at this time.”

Shearwater put the property up for sale in late 2023 with a $7 million asking price, under real estate services firm Colliers International.

Nicholas Morizio, Colliers president in Hartford and New Haven, said the property has been under contract for nearly a year, but remains on the market until a deal closes. He could not disclose the potential buyer.

The site has a history of attracting interest from major retailers and developers, although previous proposals have failed to advance.

In 2016, the Connecticut Department of Transportation approved a traffic permit for a mixed-use subdivision at 3800 East Main St. that included a proposed Walmart store.

The site was subsequently considered for an Amazon last-mile distribution center, but those plans also fell through.

Walmart currently operates a store and auto center on Wolcott Street in Waterbury, a busy commercial corridor near the Wolcott town line.

The proposed East Main Street location would give Walmart a presence along another major corridor, with this site benefitting from two nearby interchanges with Interstate 84.

Plans would tie the new Walmart location into an access road network of major retailers such as Costco, Kohl’s and Restaurant Depot.

Shearwater acquired the nearly 20-acre East Main Street property for $5 million in September 2022, citing its relative affordability compared with similar development sites in Massachusetts and a welcoming reception from Waterbury officials.

The property was once a steep, rocky hillside, but gravel excavation over the years reduced it to a relatively flat development site.

At the time of the acquisition, Shearwater partner Jamie Ciffolillo acknowledged that the property would still require substantial site improvements before construction could begin, including a significant retaining wall and utility connections.

Attempts to reach Shearwater for comment Monday was not immediately successful.

A major project on the Milford Parkway starts Monday. Here’s what to expect

Brianna Gurciullo

Periodic lane closures are expected on the Milford Parkway starting Monday, Nov. 9, as a major project gets underway to upgrade the highway that connects Route 15, Interstate 95 and Route 1.

“Motorists should be aware that closures and lane shifts will continue through November 2028 as the project moves forward,” said state Department of Transportation spokesperson Eva Zymaris.

The work includes paving the Milford Parkway, also known as the Daniel S. Wasson Connector, in both directions as well as “improving drainage, extending acceleration and deceleration lanes, revising lane configurations and pavement markings, upgrading roadside safety barriers (and) replacing overhead sign structures,” according to DOT.

The bridge that carries the highway over East Rutland Road in Milford will also be rehabilitated as part of the project.

The construction is expected to cost about $18 million, Zymaris said on Wednesday, with an 80% to 20% funding split between the federal government and the state. Terryville-based Richards Corp. was awarded the contract for the job.

In a public notice, DOT said the project will be completed in stages, with temporary barriers put in place to “maintain traffic flow and minimize disruptions to the traveling public.”

Work will take place during the day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and at night from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Mondays to Thursdays.

The project aims to improve safety, reduce congestion and extend the service life of the parkway’s infrastructure, DOT said.

About 60,000 vehicles travel on the Milford Parkway each day, according to a public presentation DOT gave last year. From the beginning of 2021 to the end of 2023, there were 189 reported crashes in the project area, with 68% classified as rear-end crashes, the presentation said.

CT makes fuel cells that power data centers. Here’s what to know

John Moritz

Connecticut is playing a quiet role in powering the global build-out of data centers through the development of fuel cell power stations.

The global fuel cell market is expected to grow to around $30 billion in revenue by 2030, more than ten times the $2.8 billion in revenue reported last year, according to research firm Rystad Energy. Demand is largely coming from data centers, which require the kind of continuous, on-site power generation fuel cells provide.

While Connecticut has yet to experience widespread development of hyperscale data centers, it is home to two of the world’s leading manufacturers of fuel cells: Fuel Cell Energy in Danbury and Torrington and HyAxiom — a division of Doosan Group — located in South Windsor.

But what are fuel cells, and why are they suddenly of interest to data center developers?

How do fuel cells work?

Simply put, fuel cells create energy from a chemical reaction involving air and another fuel, usually hydrogen. The reaction produces water, electricity and heat.

From there, the process works similarly to a battery, with negative (anode) and a positive (cathode) ends surrounding an electrolyte layer. Hydrogen is delivered to the anode while air is sent to the cathode. Electrons travel through a circuit between the two ends, creating electricity.

Unlike a battery, fuel cells can operate around-the-clock without the need to recharge.

Fuels cells powered by natural gas must first break down methane into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, but they emit a lower volume of CO2 than traditional power plants that burn fossil fuels. (Fossil fuel-burning power plants also emit other air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur.)

For this reason, proponents tout fuel cells as an effective way to cut emissions while still providing essential power to homes, businesses, factories and, increasingly, data centers.

“That’s the biggest value piece of where fuel cells bring a real differentiator,” said Eric Strayer, the global head of sales at Fuel Cell Energy. “You don’t have a loud turbine combusting and, you know, vibrating at your site. It’s a quiet, electrochemical conversion of that natural gas into electricity and heat.”

Some critics, however, point out that fuel cells do rely on fossil fuels and related infrastructure, including natural gas pipelines.

How are they used?

The basic technology behind fuel cells has been around since the mid-1800s, a short time after the invention of batteries. A century later, Pratt and Whitney made hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells that were used to power the Service Module on NASA’s Apollo space missions.

Since the 1970s, the development of fuel cell technology has been driven by rising energy prices and the push for cleaner forms of electricity, according to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In addition to providing electrical power, fuel cells can be used to power vehicles and heavy machinery.

Honda and Toyota both began selling hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles in the early 2000s. However, that technology has not become more widely available due to the high cost and limited availability of hydrogen refueling stations.

There are also different fuel cell designs based on the type of electrolyte used to produce the chemical reaction.

Fuel Cell Energy, for example, manufactures a molten-carbonate system with a minimum output of 1,250 kilowatts. Doosan, the parent company of HyAxiom, produces a 440-kilowatt solid-oxide fuel cell system.

What does the future hold?

Power fuel cells can be built small enough to fit on top of a tractor-trailer, allowing them to be transported and located nearly anywhere.

That’s made them attractive option for energy developers seeking to build in dense, urban communities or on former brownfield sites. Bridgeport, for example, is home to four different fuel cell power stations.

In addition, modular designs allow fuel cells to be scaled to provide much larger quantities of power — one of the principal demands of data centers.

For example, developers behind proposed data center projects in Beacon Falls, Colchester and Cromwell have all pitched using fuel cells to power those facilities instead of relying off the local power grid. So far, none of those projects have received approvals from state or local officials.

Elsewhere, the rush to construct and power new data centers is having local economic effects. At its manufacturing facility in Torrington, Fuel Cell Energy is currently hiring a around 100 workers as part of a ramp-up in production to meet the demand from data center developers. Just a few years ago, Strayer said, the plant’s production capacity was about 40 megawatts of fuel cells annually. The current ramp-up will increase production to 100 megawatts a year.

In addition, the company is investing more than $200 million to expand its manufacturing facility in hopes of producing up to 500 megawatts a year by mid-2028.

In October, South Windsor Town Manager Michael Maniscalco announced at a public meeting that HyAxiom was looking to “double in size” its facility within the town, adding about 200 jobs.

CT Construction Digest Friday November 6, 2026

Midterms cloud outlook for data center construction, transportation bill

Sebastian Obando

The results of the midterm elections mean more scrutiny on the data center boom and a probable delay to a long-awaited federal transportation bill, industry sources say.

A blue wave launched Democrats to successfully flip control of both the House and the Senate on Tuesday night. Analysts called it a “rebuke” of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Democrats, in particular, pushed for data center moratoriums at the state level, said Daniel Fisher, senior vice president of government and external affairs at the Associated Equipment Distributors trade group. He anticipates projects hitting more hurdles now due to voters embracing that push.

“I’d expect many planned data center projects to be put off or delayed,” Fisher told Construction Dive.

Still, Fisher said those changes minimally impact total demand for data center construction.

“However, at the end of the day, Democrats and Republicans must recognize the economic impact of data center construction and associated energy projects, and the importance to the country’s ability to compete in the global AI race,” Fisher said.

The widespread Democrat victory nonetheless increases the likelihood of policy changes around data center projects. The changes could ultimately add costs, delays and uncertainty to an important construction growth source, said Michael Guckes, chief economist at ConstructConnect.

Nevertheless, due to the size and scope of the boom to date, Guckes also expects strong demand to persist around these facilities.

“A change in Congressional control would not, by itself, imply a halt in data center construction,” Guckes told Construction Dive. “[Policy changes] would not change the fact that data centers represent an important change to the future of how work will be done, nor does it change AI’s importance to the future of national security.”

Related to data centers, there is also an immense opportunity in grid buildouts, said Kristen Swearingen, vice president of government affairs at Associated Builders and Contractors. She agreed momentum in the sector will persist.

“It heightens the prospect for moratorium discussions in states like Texas and Michigan, but it doesn’t change what is coming either way,” said Swearingen. “Many governors and their administrations, regardless of party, are seeking to lead on regulatory frameworks around data center construction that aim to address constituent concerns, while hopefully looking to maximize benefits from the boom for workers and the economy.”

On the other hand, temporary pauses help communities prepare for data center development, said Daren Shumate, founder of data center engineering firm Shumate Engineering and a former Fairfax County, Virginia, planning commissioner.

Moratoriums give local governments time to update zoning requirements to address concerns such as noise and water demand, he said. Some rural areas, Shumate added, have never faced this type of industrial demand in their history.

“The organic demand for AI and the data centers that support it is so strong that the buildout will continue without missing a beat,” said Shumate. “The key is for local governments to meet the moment and protect their communities without missing out on the economic benefits provided by such projects.”

A longer wait for transportation funding

Congress will need to make a decision on the surface transportation bill by Dec. 11, whether that is a short-term extension or the passage of the BUILD America 250 Act, said Fisher.

With the massive Democrat electoral victory, however, it now seems unlikely lawmakers will pass a surface transportation bill this year, he added. Winning representatives and senators will be sworn in in January, so current members will likely wait until then to discuss the surface transportation bill.

“Democrats will be content with extending the current law so they can draft a bill more to their liking,” said Fisher. “I do think Democrats will prioritize a surface transportation bill next Congress.”

Swearingen agreed “it is likely to be extended with full government funding into 2027.” However, the move does not ultimately provide a stable planning horizon for contractors, said Fisher.

Read More in Commercial Building

“The failure to enact a long-term surface reauthorization bill means a lack of clarity on the future of federal funding for infrastructure projects across the country,” said Fisher. “State departments of transportation don’t have the certainty to begin major projects and contractors won’t be confident of future work.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act raised average annual federal highway funding by about 62% and public transit funding by about 67% in nominal terms compared with the preceding authorization, said Guckes.

“With current authorizations nearing expiration, Congress will have to decide whether to maintain, increase or restructure those commitments,” said Guckes. “History suggests that regardless of party control funding will likely be maintained or increased.”

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to invest $650 million in new Groton manufacturing center

Paul Schott

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will build a “Manufacturing Technology Center” at its research-and-development campus in Groton, a project that will involve a $650 million capital investment in the next five years, Pfizer and economic development officials announced Thursday. 

The approximately 220,000-square-foot facility will “produce clinical active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products that support Pfizer-sponsored clinical trials around the world,” according to a news release issued by the economic-development nonprofit AdvanceCT. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027, with the goal of “operational startup” in mid-2031.

“Pfizer has a long and proud history of scientific innovation in Groton, where many of the discoveries that advance our pipeline begin,” Raja Mangipudy, Pfizer’s Groton site head, said in a written statement included in the news release. “Building on that legacy, the new Manufacturing Technology Center will advance our ability to support clinical research and the development of new medicines for patients around the world.”

The announcement from AdvanceCT also noted that the new center will “consolidate employees currently working in other facilities across the Groton campus into a modern, purpose-built center.” 

“Pfizer’s decision to make this major investment in Groton demonstrates the continued value of the highly specialized research-and-development capabilities that have been built here,” AdvanceCT CEO and President John Bourdeaux said in a written statement. “The Manufacturing Technology Center will connect scientific discovery with the advanced manufacturing capabilities needed to support clinical trials around the world. It is a significant vote of confidence in Groton, its workforce and Connecticut’s ability to support biopharmaceutical innovation at a global scale.”

No state funding will be allocated for the Manufacturing Technology Center, according to AdvanceCT officials. 

The Groton campus, which encompasses 2.17 million square feet of lab and office space on 175 acres, was established in 1959, according to Pfizer’s website. Its operations include clinical development and operations, global clinical supply, drug safety, medicine design, pharmacokinetics, dynamics and metabolism, as well as pharmaceutical sciences. 

“Many of the discoveries and innovations that power Pfizer’s pipeline originate in the world-class research-and-development laboratories in Groton,” the website states. “Nearly every Pfizer medicine is developed, in part, at this site.” 

As of last year, Pfizer had about 4,000 employees in Groton, ranking as the third largest employer in Groton, according to the Town of Groton’s annual comprehensive financial report for the 2025 fiscal year. The company also ranks as the second largest local taxpayer, with taxable assessed value of about $365 million, according to the report. 

A message left for Pfizer that inquired how the Manufacturing Technology Center would affect the company's head count in Groton was not immediately returned. 

Numerous elected officials hailed the project. 

“Pfizer’s presence in both the Town and City of Groton is an extraordinary asset to our community and the southeastern Connecticut region,” Juliette Parker, mayor of the Town of Groton, said in a written statement. “We are proud to see Pfizer continue to invest in Groton and look forward to our continued partnership and supporting the opportunities this facility will create for our residents, businesses and region.”

State Sen.-elect Joe de la Cruz, a Democrat who will represent a district that includes Groton, expressed similar optimism.

“Pfizer has been part of Groton for as long as I can remember. My neighbors work there, and this investment keeps that work here for the long haul,” de la Cruz said in a written statement. “I spent my career in the trades, and I know what a project this size means: years of work for the carpenters, electricians, sheet metal workers and laborers who will build it. And when the construction crews leave, the jobs stay. This puts the scientists and technicians on that campus in a modern facility built for the next generation of medicines, and that keeps good-paying jobs anchored in the region for decades to come.”

The New York City-headquartered Pfizer is one of the largest companies in the world, with 2025 revenues of about $63 billion. Based on those returns, it placed No. 73 in this year's Fortune 500 rankings. 

Its highest-selling drug last year was the blood thinner Eliquis, with revenues of about $8 billion. Other top sellers include Prevnar, a vaccine against pneumococcal disease; Ibrance, a treatment for breast cancer; Comirnaty, a vaccine against COVID-19; Paxlovid, a treatment for COVID-19; and Nurtec, a medication for migraine headaches. Nurtec was developed by the New Haven-based Biohaven, which Pfizer acquired for about $11.6 billion in 2022. 

Meanwhile, Groton is also benefiting from a boom at submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat, which has a shipyard and main offices on Eastern Point Road, a few blocks from Pfizer’s campus. Electric Boat plans to hire 8,000 people this year to support $77 billion in new contracts for submarines for the U.S. Navy. 

Electric Boat is the largest local employer, with more than 11,300 employees, and it is also the largest local taxpayer, according to the Groton annual report.

The U.S. Navy’s submarine base, which is the home of Electric Boat-made submarines such as the USS Idaho and USS Iowa, is the second largest local employer, with about 11,100 employees, according to the report. 

As arena construction continues, Mohegan Sun announces $22M hotel renovation

Alison Cross

Mohegan — Mohegan Sun announced plans for a $22 million renovation of its Earth Tower hotel as the casino shared more details Thursday on its multiphase arena transformation.

Mohegan Sun said it intends to start renovations on the 13-story, 400-room hotel next summer. Additional details on the project were not immediately available. The Earth Tower hotel first opened in 2016.

In an update Thursday, the casino said its overhaul of Mohegan Sun Arena is moving forward with a $30 million price tag. When Mohegan Sun broke ground on the project in August, estimated costs were $25 million.

“We’re really excited for this next chapter of Mohegan Sun Arena,” Joe Soper, Mohegan’s vice president of sports and entertainment, said in a statement. “The goal is simple: to create a more immersive, comfortable and thrilling venue for fans as well as our artists and promoters.”

Although the arena will remain open for the first phase of construction, Mohegan Sun said the arena will close from Dec. 15 through Feb. 28. When the space reopens, guests can expect new seating, concessions, lighting, finishes, flooring and digital displays, as well as bathroom and elevator upgrades.

Mohegan Sun said 25-foot-wide LED screens and 360-degree “Halo” LED displays will be installed at the arena’s entrances. Beer garden outlets will be replaced with “refreshed marketplace concepts” with more than 30 beer and craft-cocktail taps and expanded food options.

Another marketplace in the north of the arena will feature “Just Walk Out” Amazon technology. Guests will be able to swipe their credit card as they enter, grab a snack or drink, and walk out without having to wait in a checkout line.

In 2027, Mohegan Sun said, it will start construction on a 4,000-square-foot VIP lounge at the arena’s Casino of the Sky entrance. The lounge will include a full bar and upgraded amenities, offering a “luxury pre-show and event experience” for up to 150 guests, according to the casino.

“This investment reflects our commitment to continually evolving to meet the expectations of guests,” Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager, said in a statement.

“We’re focused on reimagining how guests experience Mohegan Sun at every touchpoint, from live entertainment and dining to accommodations and premium amenities,” Hamilton added. “By investing in the resort and its experiences, we’re building on our legacy of innovation and ensuring Mohegan Sun remains a premier destination for years to come.”

Revolution Wind, staged at New London's State Pier, is fully up and running

Greg Smith

New London — State officials celebrated news Thursday that Revolution Wind, the offshore wind farm that weathered two stop-work orders from the Trump administration, reached full commercial operation last month.

The milestone for the nation’s third completed utility-scale offshore wind farm was announced during Danish energy company Ørsted’s third-quarter financial report to investors.

“This is a major milestone, and I’m very pleased with the resilience and efforts that the team demonstrated to achieve this,” Ørsted CEO Rasmus Errboe said in his presentation to investors Thursday.

Connecticut will receive 304 megawatts of the wind farm’s output to the New England grid, with the remaining 400 megawatts delivered to Rhode Island. The Constitution State’s share is expected to meet about 5% of its overall electricity demand. In total, the wind farm is expected to power the equivalent of 350,000 homes.

Gov. Ned Lamont called the achievement “a significant milestone for Connecticut and a welcome addition to our energy mix that will help lower utility costs for families and improve the reliability of our grid.”

“This moment was a long time coming, and this project weathered multiple storms in the form of challenges from the federal administration,” Lamont said in a statement. “I commend everyone involved for staying the course and keeping focused on the goal: getting this project completed and online, delivering affordable, reliable and clean power to our grid for the benefit of our residents.”

Construction of the 65-turbine wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island was completed in September, and it had been producing some power. Power purchase agreements are in place with Rhode Island Energy, Eversource Energy and United Illuminating.

The Trump administration twice issued stop-work orders that targeted Revolution Wind, citing national security concerns. Courts later allowed construction to resume.

More recently, attorneys for the U.S. Department of the Interior asked a federal judge to rescind the department’s 2023 approval of the project’s construction and operations plan. A decision has not yet been issued in the case.

The moves are in line with President Donald Trump’s outspoken opposition to offshore wind development. His administration has slowed or halted multiple projects.

US. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, was among the legislators to applaud the news Thursday.

“At a time when Americans are facing skyrocketing energy costs and New England households are being hit with over 70% price hikes on home heating oil due to President Trump’s war in Iran, Revolution Wind will deliver much needed cheaper energy to Connecticut’s grid,” he said.

Courtney said the cost of Revolution Wind’s power, 9 cents per kilowatt-hour, is far less than the average of 30 cents per kWh in the region. “Crucially, because this power is generated and transmitted from right off the coast of New England, its price will not be at the mercy of global energy markets,” he added.

“Congratulations to the talented Connecticut building trades workers who completed this massive project through the Trump Administration’s illegal halt work orders that were flatly rejected by every court. Your hard work and perseverance will bring lower costs to Connecticut households,” Courtney said in a statement.

Revolution Wind and South Fork Wind are two of Ørsted’s three offshore wind projects that have been marshaled at State Pier in New London, which was reconstructed at a cost of about $311 million with a mix of funding from the state and Ørsted. Ørsted also leases the pier, where activity continues on the company’s third and largest U.S. offshore wind project — Sunrise Wind. Electricity from Sunrise Wind is headed for New York.

“The announcement that the Revolution project is now in operation is the result of the work done by the people at State Pier and offshore. Their dedication and attention to safety made this achievement possible,” said the Connecticut Port Authority’s executive director, Michael O’Connor.

“The Connecticut Port Authority and Ørsted, having previously collaborated on the renovation of State Pier, continue to work together to utilize the Connecticut port to install offshore wind,” he added.

Another development highlighted in Thursday’s report was that Sunrise Wind has completed installation of all wind turbine foundations.

Construction advances on 322-unit apartment complex at former UConn West Hartford campus

David Krechevsky

Construction is progressing on a 322-unit luxury apartment complex at the former University of Connecticut campus in West Hartford, with leasing expected to begin in late spring 2027.

Short Hills, New Jersey-based Garden Communities said Thursday that work is advancing on The Residences at Heritage Park at 1360 Trout Brook Drive.

The development will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments, some with dens and balconies, along with a clubhouse featuring a fitness center, tasting kitchen and office workstations.

Other amenities will include a rooftop gathering area, outdoor swimming pool, dog park, electric vehicle charging stations, and covered and surface parking.

Eli Pechthold, managing director of Garden Communities, said the new community reflects his company’s focus on delivering “high-quality multifamily housing in sought-after locations.”

The apartment complex received final approval from the Town Council in April 2024. The project consists of four buildings on 14.86 acres that previously served as parking for UConn’s former West Hartford branch campus.

The property was sold in August 2024 for $22.4 million to Milwaukee-based Garden Homes Property Management Corp.

While releasing an update on the project, Garden Communities did not disclose the anticipated rental rates, total construction costs or an expected initial occupancy date for the apartment complex.

The development is separate from a larger mixed-use project, also called Heritage Park, approved by the Town Council in February 2025.

That project, located across Trout Brook Drive at 1800 Asylum Ave., calls for residential units, a 90-unit assisted living facility, retail shops, a restaurant, a spa and a grocery store on the former UConn campus property.

UConn relocated its West Hartford branch to downtown Hartford in 2017.

CT Construction Digest Thursday November 5, 2026

Enfield approves $511M school plan as Southington rejects $86.7M project, unofficial results show

Crystal Elescano

Voters in Southington rejected an $86.7 million school construction proposal on Tuesday's general election ballot, while Enfield voters approved a $511 million school project, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of the State's website.

“The approval of the building project referendum demonstrates a shared community belief and commitment to providing our students with safe, modern and engaging learning environments that will serve them well into the future,” Enfield school Superintendent Steven Moccio told CT Insider on Wednesday morning.

“This approval is more than a facilities project; it is an investment in our students, our staff, and the long-term strength of the Enfield community,” he said.  

Enfield’s school referendum received 4,338 yes votes and 4,049 no votes, according to unofficial results from the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s Office.

The district is expected to consolidate from six elementary schools into four, closing Enfield Street School and converting Eli Whitney into Eagle Academy. 

In the Enfield referendum, voters were asked to authorize $511 million for the pre-K to 5+ Eagle Academy project, which includes:

$105 million for a new Hazardville Memorial Elementary School;

$114 million for a new Prudence Crandall Elementary School;

$109 million for a new Edgar H. Parkman Elementary School;

$122 million for a new Barnard Elementary School; and

$61 million to convert Eli Whitney Elementary School into Eagle Academy.  

The referendum also authorized the town to issue up to $89 million in bonds or notes. The project’s remaining costs will be covered by state grants and other available funds.

Although the total cost of the project is $511 million, the town’s estimated share would be $89 million after state reimbursement, according to the district.

Moccio said the town will submit the certified results of the referendum to the state, along with additional information that will be updated in the construction grant. After that, the town will move forward with creating a building committee for the project.  

The Enfield project is expected to be completed in two phases. Hazardville Memorial, Prudence Crandall and Edgar H. Parkman elementary schools would be scheduled to open in fall 2030. Henry Barnard Elementary School and Eagle Academy would follow, with construction beginning in 2028 and completion expected by 2032, according to officials.

The next step for the project is designing the buildings for the first phase, which will take place between 2026 and 2028, with construction beginning in 2028. The second phase design would run from 2028 to 2030, with construction expected to begin in 2030.  

“Our students deserve the very best opportunities to learn, grow and succeed. And I am beyond grateful for the support shown by Enfield voters and for the thoughtful conversations that took place throughout this process,” Moccio said. “Special thanks to the various committee members that worked with the architects to find a solution that positions the district for our current and future needs.”

Failed referendum in Southington

As of Wednesday morning, unofficial referendum results showed 9,971 no votes and 8,819 yes votes for the school project in Southington, according to Superintendent Steven Madancy.

The totals did not include absentee ballots, but Madancy said Wednesday that the margin was too wide to be overturned.

In Southington, the town asked voters to approve an ordinance to fund an elementary facilities plan, which would have included the construction of a new Kelley Elementary School, upgrades at South End Elementary School and the closure of Flanders Elementary School, with the building repurposed for municipal and community use.

The referendum would have authorized up to $86,675,560 in bonds and notes to finance the project. The cost of the project would have been $86.4 million, with an estimated town share of $33.9 million to $39.7 million, officials had said.

When the Southington Town Council approved the referendum date and question in April, council members discussed how the school buildings were in dire need of repairs. 

With voters rejecting the referendum, Madancy said the Board of Education will reconvene to consider the next steps. The options could include developing a different construction plan by looking at the various scenarios for an alternative that hasn’t been explored. 

One possibility could be bringing the same proposal back to voters in another referendum, he said.

“There is a lot that needs to happen,” Madancy told CT Insider. “We need to look at the current situation and the immediate needs that are in those buildings because now there’s not an imminent project.”

Any immediate work done on the schools would not be reimbursable from the state and would be expenditures from the town, he said. 

“Our responsibility to our students and community remains unchanged. While the voters have spoken on this specific plan, the challenges facing our aging facilities and the need for modern, safe learning environments have not vanished,” Madancy said. “We listen, we respect the voice of taxpayers, and we will take this feedback to reevaluate our path forward together.”

In addition to Enfield and Southington, several districts had school infrastructure questions on the ballot. Middletown had the largest project, with voters approving a $30.4 million appropriation and bond authorization for districtwide improvements, according to unofficial results.

The project includes roof replacements and rooftop air-conditioning units at six schools; HVAC control systems at seven schools; oil tanks and boiler systems at two schools; and safety and security upgrades at all schools.

Data center pauses are spreading in Connecticut. A statewide moratorium could be next

Jordan Nathaniel Fenster

Several communities have already paused or stopped approving data centers, but a proposal is heading to the General Assembly this session that could create a statewide moratorium.

Why Connecticut’s 2011 October snowstorm was so destructive

The proposal from state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, is still taking shape, but he said there is “a tremendous amount of concern by residents of the state about these new AI data centers.”

Duff said lawmakers should use the 2027 legislative session to examine the facilities’ effects on electricity, water, infrastructure costs and noise, then decide what rules should apply.

“I think at this point we would start probably with a moratorium on all data centers,” Duff said in an interview with CT Insider. “We just need to contemplate all of those things in the legislative session and come up with rules of the road or not.”

House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said he believed a proposal for a full moratorium is "politically motivated," though he said statewide data center regulation could have bipartisan support. 

"I think we've got to be more prescriptive about it," he said. "There is a reality that data centers are needed. People love their phones. They love AI. They love ChatGPT. I don't think you need to take a sledgehammer to this issue, especially so much of our economy is based on data and data storage. It has become a a national political football."

Duff said the scope would need to be worked out, but he would consider revisiting tax breaks for data centers passed in 2021 and setting rules for future projects.

“Nobody, when we did the original bill in 2021, contemplated AI data centers,” Duff said. “They weren’t even a thing.”

AI data centers tend to be in hyperscale data centers, which are very large facilities, typically owned by a major technology firm, cloud provider or telecommunications company and built to handle enormous computing and storage demands, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

“AI data centers are so much bigger; they use so much more electricity,” Duff said. “The water usage, the same concerns that Connecticut residents have as we’re seeing around the country.”

There are several proposals for data centers being considered across Connecticut, though they are described in public materials as smaller, locally powered facilities.

In Bristol, the Inland Wetlands Agency approved an application with stipulations for a data center at 234 Riverside Ave. The city’s notice describes a two-story, 7,279-square-foot building; Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu has described it as a roughly 15,000-square-foot “micro-cloud” facility with a 4-megawatt fuel cell. The wetlands approval does not cover all local permits, and the project still needs site-plan and building approvals.

In Colchester, CMMD LLC has presented a concept for two data centers on about 17 acres at 42 Old Amston Road, each powered by a 4.99-megawatt fuel cell. The company has discussed the proposal with town officials but had not filed a formal application as of Oct. 21. It intends to seek a zone change first.

Several Connecticut towns have already adopted moratoriums or bans.

West Haven approved a one-year moratorium in June. Trumbull adopted a two-year moratorium on new data centers in September, exempting its existing facility. New Haven enacted a 12-month moratorium, with an exception for its existing quantum-computing hub. East Lyme adopted an indefinite ban in October, before any local project had been announced.

Other towns have considered pauses without adopting them. Ellington’s Planning and Zoning Commission authorized the town planner to begin the process for a one-year moratorium application. Beacon Falls officials directed staff to research a moratorium after residents asked for one. Harwinton officials discussed a possible moratorium after receiving inquiries.

In Cromwell, the commission rejected a proposed one-year moratorium while a developer was promoting a data-center campus; the developer says it has not yet filed a site plan.

Duff said the state cannot consider the issue town by town because the region’s electric grid is interconnected.

“Even if there’s one of these in another state in our isolated grid, that still impacts us,” he said.

Duff said he expects lawmakers to hear from residents and industry representatives before settling on a policy. 

“I would feel confident that we would be able to come out with something that is good for the state of Connecticut and one that is not a drag on businesses, but also protects residents of the state,” he said.

Norwich considers next move after voters again reject police station project

Conor Linskey

Norwich — The city is planning its next move after voters on Tuesday narrowly rejected a $55 million plan to create a new police headquarters.

The city had proposed to renovate the former Chelsea Groton Bank building at 300 Main St. but voters rejected then plan 4,838-4,607.

Residents here have now rejected a plan for a new police station on three occasions, in 2012, 2023 and 2026. The cost of the project increased with each vote, going from $33 million in 2012 to $44 million in 2023, and then $55 million on Tuesday.

The difference this time is the city purchased the bank in 2024 for $800,000 with plans to renovate and expand it into a police station.

Police Chief Patrick Daley said Wednesday afternoon that while the plan is to put the new headquarters in the bank building, the city would consider its options.

“It was a very close vote, I think one percent or so difference,” he said. “But that’s the second time we’ve been within one percent. So, obviously we need to look at our messaging and see where we came up short. The need’s real. It’s not going away. And prices aren’t going to get cheaper. So, we have to look at what we can do differently.”

To get the project approved by voters, Daley believes there needs to be more citizen involvement. To that end, he said, there needs to be a public forum where the city shares the costs of the project and then evaluates what is feasible.

“We have to look at cost cutting,” Daley said. “Do we change the scope of the project? What does it involve? ... People were concerned about the cost. What can we do to get that down, if possible? I don’t know if it’s possible.”

Mayor Swarnjit Singh said Wednesday he hopes there will be another vote to approve the project but he was unsure about when that would be. Like Daley, Singh said he believes the department greatly needs a new station.

“The need was identified even in the 2014 report by the police station committee, and the need is still there,” Singh said. “As a mayor, I would like to take that need to the finish line.”

The current 47-year-old police station on Thames Street has insufficient storage and interview space, no room for female officers to change and numerous other problems, including water damage from a leaky roof that threatens computer equipment, and mold.

Deputy Police Chief Thomas Lazzaro said the new headquarters will be double the size of the department’s current headquarters on Thames Street. The department plans to use the additional space for a community room, which local organizations could use for events. The expanded footprint would also allow for more training sessions for outside police agencies as well as city police.

For now, Daley said, the former Chelsea Groton Bank building will continue to be a community resource available for meetings and training.

Regulators approve up to $1.15B in new borrowing for Eversource as interest costs climb

Andrew Larson

State utility regulators on Wednesday approved Eversource’s request to borrow up to $1.15 billion for its Connecticut electric utility through the end of 2027, at a time when rising interest rates are driving up what the company pays to borrow.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s decision allows Connecticut Light and Power Co., which does business as Eversource, to issue bonds or unsecured notes, in one or more batches, with maturities of one to 30 years.

Eversource plans to use the money for capital projects and to pay off $500 million in bonds that come due in March 2027, according to its application. Those bonds carry a 3.2% interest rate.

The replacement debt will cost more. As of late September, Eversource estimated that a new 10-year bond would carry a rate of about 5.98%. That was up from 5.15% when the company prepared its application, as Treasury yields climbed.

Eversource expects to spend $2 billion on capital projects in Connecticut in 2026 and 2027. It plans to cover that spending and the maturing bonds with about $1 billion in cash from operations, the new long-term debt and $350 million in short-term borrowing, according to the application.

The borrowing is expected to raise the utility’s overall cost of capital from 7.04% to 7.2%, according to the decision. The company told regulators it expects to keep its current credit ratings.

The approval doesn’t guarantee Eversource can pass its borrowing costs on to customers. Utilities can recover only costs that regulators find prudent, or reasonably incurred.

PURA said it will make that call later, when Eversource asks to include the debt costs in rates. Any costs the authority rejects would fall to the company and its shareholders instead of customers.

The decision comes as PURA weighs Eversource’s first Connecticut electric distribution rate case since 2018. The company filed in July for a $727 million annual rate increase and a final decision is expected in mid-2027.