The state is giving Bristol $1.85 million to make long-planned improvements along Middle Street near the city’s new industrial park.
The funds will be used to widen Middle Street in Bristol to add left-turn lanes and a traffic signal at the intersections Industrial Park Road and Battisto Drive, according to Gov. Jodi Rell.
“It’s going to be widening [Route] 229 by the industrial park and also down by the fire house,” said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Democrat whose 79th District includes the area.
Nicastro said that the money would also pay for new traffic signalization to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
“I’m tickled pink about it because that moves that industrial park further along,” said Nicastro, who pushed for creation of the industrial park during his 10-year stint as mayor.
State Rep. Ron Burns, a Bristol Republican from the 77th District, said the “improvements, coupled with the completion of the Route 72 extension project, will help make the business park a highly desirable location for new employers.”
“It’s absolutely necessary” to get the money, said Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director.
“The timing is good. That does mean they can begin construction sometime this year, if they can schedule it,” Rosenthal said. “But it has to be when DOT is able to work on it.”
Rosenthal said that he doubts the project will cost as much as the state is setting aside, but it’s nice to have a cushion in case of glitches.
“The improvements this grant will finance will ensure traffic continues to move smoothly along Route 229 and make the Southeast Bristol Business Park easier to market,” said state Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol.
Hamzy said that ESPN and 229 Technology Park “have contributed significantly to economic growth in Bristol over the years, broadening the city’s tax base and creating thousands of new jobs. The governor’s and bond commission’s approval of this funding will help ensure that trend continues.”
Rell said the project is part of a statewide initiative.
“As Bristol grows, we need to make sure the roads and highways are keeping pace with the growth,” Rell said in a prepared statement Thursday.
“Our state’s economic success depends in part on our ability to move people and goods efficiently and effectively over our highways and rail systems, which is why improving the Connecticut transportation network has been such a high priority for my Administration,” the governor said.
“I am pleased to see projects like Route 229 move ahead,” Rell said.
Rell said the improvements are part of a $20 million package of upgrades to state roads and interstates other than I-95 that will be considered by the State Bond Commission today.
Here is the governor's press release:
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced $1.85 million to make improvements on state Route 229 in Bristol at the intersections of Industrial Park Road and Battisto Drive.
The funds will be used to widen Route 229 – which is also known as Middle Street in Bristol – to add left-turn lanes and a traffic signal at the intersections.
“As Bristol grows, we need to make sure the roads and highways are keeping pace with the growth,” Governor Rell said. “Our state’s economic success depends in part on our ability to move people and goods efficiently and effectively over our highways and rail systems, which is why improving the Connecticut transportation network has been such a high priority for my Administration. I am pleased to see projects like Route 229 move ahead.
“I also want to thank state Representatives Ron Burns and Bill Hamzy for their strong advocacy on behalf of Bristol,” the Governor said.
The improvements to Route 229 are part of $20 million in upgrades to state highways and interstates other than I-95 expected to gain approval at the Bond Commission meeting on Friday.
And here's another release, from the state House GOP:
The State Bond Commission Friday is expected to approve $1,850,000 in state funding for various improvements to Route 229 to accommodate the Southeast Bristol Business Park, state Representatives William A. Hamzy, Ron Burns, and Frank N. Nicastro Sr., announced today.
The bond commission is expected to act on the funding at its regular monthly meeting Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the legislators said.
The improvements to Route 229 at Battisto Road and Business Park Drive include minor widening to provide turning lanes and traffic signal installation to accommodate the business park, the legislators said.
“The improvements this grant will finance will ensure traffic continues to move smoothly along Route 229 and make the Southeast Bristol Business Park easier to market. ESPN and 229 Technology Park have contributed significantly to economic growth in Bristol over the years, broadening the city’s tax base and creating thousands of new jobs. The Governor’s and bond commission’s approval of this funding will help ensure that trend continues,” said Representative Hamzy, R-78th District.
“The completion of the new turning lanes and installation of the traffic signal that will serve the business park will ease traffic flow and safety concerns that might be raised by companies interested in moving there. Those improvements, coupled with the completion of the Route 72 extension project, will help make the business park a highly desirable location for new employers. Governor Rell and the bond commission’s support for the Route 72 project, the downtown revitalization initiative and the development of the Southeast Bristol Business Park are all contributing to Bristol’s economic renaissance and I thank them for it,” said Representative Burns, R-77th District.
“When I was mayor and the business park was still in the pre-development stages, the city’s legislative delegation and I met with state Department of Transportation officials regarding the road widening and signalization improvements that would be needed to ensure easy access to and from the business park,” said Representative Nicastro, D-79th District. “The improvements will go a long way toward easing the concerns we had about traffic flow and safety in the area. I’d like to thank Governor Rell and the Bond Commission for their support for this important project.”
The Southeast Bristol Business Park will be developed on 51 acres of mostly vacant land on the east side of Route 229 and north of Redstone Hill Road. The business park will consist of 12 developable lots which will support a total building area of 677,968 square feet. Access to the Southeast Bristol Business Park will be via a new city-owned public roadway constructed between Route 229 (opposite Battisto Road) and Redstone Hill Road at a point 1,300 feet east of Route 229, the legislators said.
The Route 229 improvements will be completed at no cost to local property taxpayers, the legislators said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The funds will be used to widen Middle Street in Bristol to add left-turn lanes and a traffic signal at the intersections Industrial Park Road and Battisto Drive, according to Gov. Jodi Rell.
“It’s going to be widening [Route] 229 by the industrial park and also down by the fire house,” said state Rep. Frank Nicastro, a Democrat whose 79th District includes the area.
Nicastro said that the money would also pay for new traffic signalization to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
“I’m tickled pink about it because that moves that industrial park further along,” said Nicastro, who pushed for creation of the industrial park during his 10-year stint as mayor.
State Rep. Ron Burns, a Bristol Republican from the 77th District, said the “improvements, coupled with the completion of the Route 72 extension project, will help make the business park a highly desirable location for new employers.”
“It’s absolutely necessary” to get the money, said Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director.
“The timing is good. That does mean they can begin construction sometime this year, if they can schedule it,” Rosenthal said. “But it has to be when DOT is able to work on it.”
Rosenthal said that he doubts the project will cost as much as the state is setting aside, but it’s nice to have a cushion in case of glitches.
“The improvements this grant will finance will ensure traffic continues to move smoothly along Route 229 and make the Southeast Bristol Business Park easier to market,” said state Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol.
Hamzy said that ESPN and 229 Technology Park “have contributed significantly to economic growth in Bristol over the years, broadening the city’s tax base and creating thousands of new jobs. The governor’s and bond commission’s approval of this funding will help ensure that trend continues.”
Rell said the project is part of a statewide initiative.
“As Bristol grows, we need to make sure the roads and highways are keeping pace with the growth,” Rell said in a prepared statement Thursday.
“Our state’s economic success depends in part on our ability to move people and goods efficiently and effectively over our highways and rail systems, which is why improving the Connecticut transportation network has been such a high priority for my Administration,” the governor said.
“I am pleased to see projects like Route 229 move ahead,” Rell said.
Rell said the improvements are part of a $20 million package of upgrades to state roads and interstates other than I-95 that will be considered by the State Bond Commission today.
Here is the governor's press release:
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced $1.85 million to make improvements on state Route 229 in Bristol at the intersections of Industrial Park Road and Battisto Drive.
The funds will be used to widen Route 229 – which is also known as Middle Street in Bristol – to add left-turn lanes and a traffic signal at the intersections.
“As Bristol grows, we need to make sure the roads and highways are keeping pace with the growth,” Governor Rell said. “Our state’s economic success depends in part on our ability to move people and goods efficiently and effectively over our highways and rail systems, which is why improving the Connecticut transportation network has been such a high priority for my Administration. I am pleased to see projects like Route 229 move ahead.
“I also want to thank state Representatives Ron Burns and Bill Hamzy for their strong advocacy on behalf of Bristol,” the Governor said.
The improvements to Route 229 are part of $20 million in upgrades to state highways and interstates other than I-95 expected to gain approval at the Bond Commission meeting on Friday.
And here's another release, from the state House GOP:
The State Bond Commission Friday is expected to approve $1,850,000 in state funding for various improvements to Route 229 to accommodate the Southeast Bristol Business Park, state Representatives William A. Hamzy, Ron Burns, and Frank N. Nicastro Sr., announced today.
The bond commission is expected to act on the funding at its regular monthly meeting Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the legislators said.
The improvements to Route 229 at Battisto Road and Business Park Drive include minor widening to provide turning lanes and traffic signal installation to accommodate the business park, the legislators said.
“The improvements this grant will finance will ensure traffic continues to move smoothly along Route 229 and make the Southeast Bristol Business Park easier to market. ESPN and 229 Technology Park have contributed significantly to economic growth in Bristol over the years, broadening the city’s tax base and creating thousands of new jobs. The Governor’s and bond commission’s approval of this funding will help ensure that trend continues,” said Representative Hamzy, R-78th District.
“The completion of the new turning lanes and installation of the traffic signal that will serve the business park will ease traffic flow and safety concerns that might be raised by companies interested in moving there. Those improvements, coupled with the completion of the Route 72 extension project, will help make the business park a highly desirable location for new employers. Governor Rell and the bond commission’s support for the Route 72 project, the downtown revitalization initiative and the development of the Southeast Bristol Business Park are all contributing to Bristol’s economic renaissance and I thank them for it,” said Representative Burns, R-77th District.
“When I was mayor and the business park was still in the pre-development stages, the city’s legislative delegation and I met with state Department of Transportation officials regarding the road widening and signalization improvements that would be needed to ensure easy access to and from the business park,” said Representative Nicastro, D-79th District. “The improvements will go a long way toward easing the concerns we had about traffic flow and safety in the area. I’d like to thank Governor Rell and the Bond Commission for their support for this important project.”
The Southeast Bristol Business Park will be developed on 51 acres of mostly vacant land on the east side of Route 229 and north of Redstone Hill Road. The business park will consist of 12 developable lots which will support a total building area of 677,968 square feet. Access to the Southeast Bristol Business Park will be via a new city-owned public roadway constructed between Route 229 (opposite Battisto Road) and Redstone Hill Road at a point 1,300 feet east of Route 229, the legislators said.
The Route 229 improvements will be completed at no cost to local property taxpayers, the legislators said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
25 comments:
Thank God for election years.
Rosenthal said that he doubts the project will cost as much as the state is setting aside, but it’s nice to have a cushion in case of glitches.
If Rosenthal gets his fingers on the money the road will have to be relocated three times (like the new road in the industrial park did) costing the taxpayers a fortune.
Best to let DOT handle this project.
THANK YOU BILL STORTZ!
ANOTHER WIN FOR BRISTOL!
This is what you call an "incumbent protection plan".
I hope they do something about cars going 60 MPH in opposite directions coming a few feet from a head-on collision with each other(on Middle Street). Otherwise this plan is worthless.
Thank you Mayor Ward!
this is all good.
but the real issue is rt 229 from the bristol/southington line (near espn) south to i-84 (exit 31)
this section of road needs immediate attention - it must be made 2 lanes in each direction and have coordinated traffic signals.
lets see what it takes before action is taken here.
-billy from bristol
Hey Billy ...... Maybe atrie will give them the travel lanes that were removed from North Main Street or Birch Street .
Ward had nothing to do with this. Neither did Stortz.
2:51 sounds like Nicastro coming out of the woodwork.
Can he really use a computer?
...2:51, what are you, the credit police??? Of course the mayor had SOMETHING to do with it, as I'm sure Mayor Stortz did too...GET OVER IT!
It is ironic that neither Stortz or Ward junped on the "I did it" bandwagon, but as 5:10 said, they each had something to do with it.
And Frank too, but he isn't bashful about stepping forward.
Like them or not, each mayor plays a role in many things that may not get resolved during their term or they benefit from things started earlier.
Unfortunately, some people want to take ALL the credit.
Of course Artie had something to do with it, he tried to mess it up by rehiring Rosenthal, but the state gave us the money anyway.
what a bunch of whiney, snot dripping, pant-wetting, drooling fools on these sites - some of you people need to either get a grip on life or seek professional counseling before your pablum hardens up.
Speaking of rosenthal, are they ever going to do anything about him, are is the council going to sit on their hands like they did before and be unwilling to make the tough decision?
Of course, Arties set the tone under Stortz, supporting Rosenthal even though he do not have clue, other than Rosenthal would help him in fund raising
...9:18 - Yet another classic example of the importance of literacy and education...
"whiney, snot dripping, pant-wetting, drooling" is what you'll be Mr. March 1, 2008 8:16 AM when some idiot going 60MPH on Middle Street crosses the line and smacks into you.
That road is dangerous!
With Rosenthal, aren't there always "glitches"????
9:49 - March 1, 2008 - walk on the other side of the street, the side with sidewalks stupid.
March 2, 2008 5:38 PM:
I sincerely hope some drunk or some dope (like yourself) doesn't cross the yellow line going at a high rate of speed and crashes into you or anyone.
Middle Street is clearly a dangerous road. If you don't agree I suggest you take some type of cognitive test in order to check to see if you're functioning at an acceptable mental level to operate a motor-vehicle.
Frank thanks Frank!
7:07 Are you talking about Hamzy and Burns?
5:32
No, the person I have in mind is Nicastro.
Frank Nicastro will do whatever he can so that he does not continue to look so bad with his involvement in the acquisition of that property.
Gee I thought Hamzy and Diamantis were the 72 heroes. ??
They thought so too.
Moral: Don't mess with Frank!
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