Live updates: I-95 bridge in Norwalk to be demolished after tanker fire

Jessica Bravo, Peter Yankowski, Josh LaBella, Kalleen Rose Ozanic,

NORWALK — A tractor-trailer fire has closed Interstate 95 and caused massive delays on the Merritt Parkway, Post Road and other local roads on Thursday.Watch More

All I-95 lanes in the area remain closed Thursday afternoon due to the crash that occurred between exits 16 and 14 around 5:30 a.m., according to Connecticut's Department of Transportation's website.

Josh Morgan, a DOT spokesperson, said southbound traffic was being diverted off the highway at Exit 16. Northbound traffic was diverting off at Exit 13.

Here are the latest updates:

Local company responded to blaze

Norwalk based King Industries responded to Norwalk Fire Department call for aid Thursday morning by helping crews put out the fire with the foam spraying vehicle.

"We use a green foam which is non-fluorinated foam," said Mike Bourgoin, the environmental manager at King Industries. 

Retired Norwalk Firefighter Tim Morrissette received a call from Ed McCabe, assistant chief-operations for NFD, on his way to work at King Industries Thursday morning.

"The vehicle is readily available for whenever it's needed," Morrissette explained. "Ed had given me a call... and I literally parked my vehicle and got in our quick-response vehicle and headed to the highway, so under five minutes, we're able to get the vehicle on scene."

King Industries worked alongside Norwalk Fire to contain the fire using the green foam.

"Water supply is a problem and especially on a highway like that, so it took us some time to get a good water supply so we could apply the correct amount of foam," Morrissette said. "Once we did get the water supply, probably 20 to 25 minutes, we were able to put the fire out with our vehicle."

Ruined tanker hauled away

The tanker is being towed from the highway as of around 4:45 p.m, and the fire department is clearing the scene, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Conte said.

Norwalk Public Schools closed on Friday

In a message to the community, officials said Norwalk Public Schools will be closed on Friday because of ongoing traffic concerns and delays. They said the district will allow athletic games, drama performances and proms to take place, but all practices are canceled through the weekend.

Officials explain traffic detours

Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said I-95 north is closed at Exit 14, so motorists will get off there and drive to the Exit 15 on-ramp. He said drivers headed south will leave the highway at Exit 15, drive onto West Avenue and get back on at Exit 14 south.

Loughman said people in passenger vehicles can get on Route 7 and take Exit 3 onto Route 15.

Bill Turner, Connecticut's emergency management director, said the state has been using wireless emergency alerts to notify people driving anywhere from the New York border in Port Chester to Bridgeport about the highway closure. He said that system has been running since this morning.

"Anyone who drives into that area ... will receive a wireless alert on their cellphone advising them to avoid the area," he said. "We're going to keep that active throughout the night into tomorrow."

Turner said it seems the message was working, as traffic coming in from New York has decreased. 

Temporary bridge not possible, rebuild could take up to a year, DOT says

DOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said it would not be possible to put up a temporary bridge along Fairfield Avenue — over I-95 — because of how wide the gap between the solid roadways is. 

"We will have to build a new bridge," he said.

As soon as the damaged bridge is removed, Eucalitto said, engineers will inspect the pier in the median. If it is safe, he said, that will make the bridge rebuild easier. Still, he said, the bridge rebuild will take place over the course of a year or so.

State police: Investigation into crash still active

Connecticut State Police Col. Daniel Loughman said no one has been charged in connection with the crash, adding the investigation is ongoing. He said troopers were able to map the scene, do inspections on all the vehicles involved, take measurements and photographs and interview witnesses.

Loughman said troopers have been placed along the diversion area route to control the flow of traffic. 

“We’re just looking for cooperation from the public to avoid the area,” he said, adding troopers will work to ensure commercial vehicles stay off the parkways.

Norwalk mayor: Situation 'could have been so much worse'

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said the situation "could have been so much worse," adding cooperation between local and state authorities mitigated that. 

"We're optimistic that we're going to get moving forward," he said. "Things will get back to normal in Norwalk as quickly as we possibly can."

Rilling said extra police officers and firefighters will be working over the next few days.  

Lamont declared an emergency, traffic still significant

Lamont said he had issued a declaration of emergency, and notified federal officials. He said he hopes to get federal reimbursement for the bridge replacement. 

Traffic on I-84, Rt. 87 and Rt. 15 is still heavy, Lamont said, adding that motorists should avoid the area if possible. He said extra rail service is being offered for people who need other options for commuting to New York City or Hartford.

“My recommendation is, if you can’t stay home, take the train,” he said. “Stay away from the cars.”

Governor Lamont says 'bridge is going to have to come down'

In a news conference late Thursday afternoon, Gov. Ned Lamont said the heat from the fire damaged the bridge, so it will have to be taken down. He said that demolition will start at 3 a.m. Friday, adding it will take about a day to do so. He said the highway will likely be fully reopened by Monday morning.

Fire and smoke from crash did not impact air quality, DEEP says

In a Tweet, DEEP said environmental officials conducted air monitoring at the scene and no impacts to air quality were detected.

Environmental officials work to remove gasoline

Rich Scalora, the supervising emergency response coordinator with the state DEEP, said workers from Republic Services have pumped out 4,100 gallons of gas that was untouched in the tanker. Now, he said, crews are pumping the remaining gas that’s mixed with foam and water.

Scalora said the tanker is split into compartments, which is why some gas remained untouched. He said the next steps are digging up the gas in the soil surrounding the highway.

"We're going to dig up all that soil that’s impacted or potentially impacted because if we leave it in there, all it’s going to do is continue to saturate into the ground and we want to avoid that at all costs," he said.

Scalora said some of the gasoline went into catch basins and from there went into a retention pond on West Avenue.

"Gasoline, unlike oil, floats on top of water. Gasoline is what we call miscible, so it kind of mixes into the water, so it's a lot harder to retrieve or remove from the water," he said.

Workers will put down Speedy Dry to clean the highway and must sweep the roadway, Scalora said, adding the goal is to have all work done in 24 hours.

"We’re going to work through the night or we’re going to work for as long as it takes," he said.

Norwalk police list road closures

In a post on Facebook, the Norwalk Police Department said officers are stationed at various intersections throughout the city to help alleviate congestion.  

Police said Fairfield Avenue is closed from Cedar Street to Connecticut Avenue; Cedar Street is closed eastbound from Connecticut Avenue to Fairfield Avenue and is closed in both directions from Fairfield Avenue to Reed Street. They said Stuart Avenue's southbound lane is closed from Connecticut Avenue to Reed Street. 

DEEP officials say no gasoline found in Norwalk River

On Thursday afternoon, Paul Copleman, a DEEP spokesperson, said environmental contractors working oversight were recovering gasoline from a retention basin that collects stormwater drainage from Interstate 95. He said the retention basin is located along West Avenue, Route 7 and Interstate 95.  

"It does not appear that any of the spilled gasoline has entered the Norwalk River or the Norwalk Harbor," he said. "Booms are in place at the outfall to the river as a precaution."

Federal officials address impact of tanker crash

In a congressional hearing on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., spoke to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about the crash and its impact on the I-95 corridor. 

"I know you've already put out a statement on this, but I just wanted to get your commitment that you'll be working all throughout the day, personally and through your staff, to make sure that we assess the damage, we get crews out there, and we get the highway and the overpass open as safe as it is possible for commuters and residents," he said.

Buttigieg said he had spoken to Gov. Lamont Thursday morning about the situation, adding the the Federal Highway Administrator was tracking it. He said the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will get involved if necessary, "given any spillage that might be in play."

"And we'll do everything we can to help everybody get back to normal there," he said. "We know and of course have been reminded through experience just how important a smooth and normal ride on I-95 can be."

Westport schools superintendent expects delays on bus routes

Westport Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice sent an email to the district community Thursday afternoon alerting expected delays to the after-school commute.

"While this morning’s accident leaves many uncertainties with travel time, I do want to remind families of the First View Bus Tracking App which can assist in determining exact drop off times," he said.

Families that do not have the app can download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Scarice also thanked Westport’s bus company, First Student, for its efforts of getting students safely to school.

"They were on top of the travel issues long before buses started rolling and did incredible work navigating the clogged streets," he said. "I am sure they will handle this afternoon’s commute in a similar fashion."

Westport police Lt. Eric Woods confirmed in a media release that as of 1 p.m., I-95 near Westport/Norwalk remained closed with no estimation of reopening. Police are advising those who do not need to travel to stay off the roads.

"Westport will remain extremely heavy through the evening commute, and most likely in the days to come," he said.

Tanker swerved to avoid crash, official says

A Standard Oil tanker had swerved to avoid a collision after a sedan cut off a tractor-trailer on I-95 southbound, according to Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Shay.

In doing so, the back of the tanker was ripped open, spilling gasoline and causing the fire, he added.

Shay said some gasoline spilled into the Norwalk River, an issue the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is handling. Shay said that responders installed booms on the catch basins to prevent gasoline from going into the river.

Police: Westport traffic also heavily impacted, likely to last days

The Westport Police Department said traffic will likely be heavily impacted for the next several days. 

"We have been in communication with local authorities as they navigate the safe reopening of the interstate," police said.

Westport police encouraged motorists to stay home, if they can. 

Official: Bridge will be torn down tonight

Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Shay said the Fairfield Avenue bridge will be torn down in the next 48 hours, citing information from the state DOT.

Shay said the demolition will start Thursday night. In the meantime, traffic will be rerouted between exits 16 and 14.

Lamont delays second scheduled presser to 5 p.m. 

For an unknown reason, Gov. Lamont's second press conference of the day is being moved to 5 p.m., even though it was orginally announced to start at 2 p.m. 

The press conference will still take place at the Connecticut Emergency Operations Center in Hartford. 

When asked why the press conference was postponed, Bednarz said officials would have "more updates available at that time."

Police asks for continued patience from public

By 1 p.m. on Thursday, Norwalk police said there still were serious delays and congestion in the area on I-95.

While patrol officers are trying to reroute traffic in the heavily-trafficked areas , the police department said on X that "Fairfield Ave. is closed from Cedar St. to Connecticut Ave. Cedar St. is closed eastbound from Connecticut Ave to Fairfield Ave. and is closed both directions from Fairfield Ave. to Reed St. Stuart Ave. is closed southbound from Connecticut Ave. to Reed St." 

Judicial court proceedings affected by Norwalk crash

The Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District also felt the effects of Thursday’s crash. Many of the district’s most serious cases needed to be administratively continued Thursday because prisoners couldn’t be transported from the state’s various correctional facilities that sit north of the crash site in Norwalk.

And the effects of the crash may linger beyond Thursday for the state’s most southerly district judicial district.

“This may be an issue tomorrow, as well,” said Judge Bruce Hudock during Thursday’s proceedings.

“It may be even more than two days,” replied Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Nemec.

Lamont schedules another press conference at 2 p.m. 

David Bednarz, a spokesperson for Lamont, said another press conference to discuss an update on the fire is scheduled to occur in Hartford at 2 p.m. 

Lamont spoke at the same place, the Connecticut Emergency Operations Center, earlier in the day, at 9:30 a.m. 

Fire Chief: Tanker involved cannot be moved until unloaded

City and state officials met at the Norwalk City Hall at around 11:30 a.m. Thursday to discuss updates on the serious I-95 crash.

Fire Chief Gino Gatto said the tanker involved in the crash cannot be moved until all remaining load, if any, is offloaded. 

Gatto said many surrounding towns offered resources, such as their fire departments and hazmat units, to aid city officials. 

Motorists are being asked to avoid the area and work from home for the next several days, as the area is expected to remain busy, Mayor Rilling said.

Don Remson, a DOT maintenance supervisor, said utilities that run under the bridge have been shut off indefinitely and officials are waiting for the scene to be cleared safe. Once it is cleared, engineers can start working.

"We don't have, can't tell you what's going on with the damage because they haven't been able to fully inspect the bridge," Remson said. "So we're hoping to have another meeting sometime later today with the engineers and our construction people to see what the next step for the bridge is."

Police Chief James Walsh reminded motorists and residents to keep checking city social media pages for updates in the upcoming hours, as more updates are expected.

Police: Flames may have rose about 100 feet above overpass

Police Sgt. Dan Sefcik estimates that when the oil truck was fully engulfed, flames rose about 100 feet above the bridge.

“When you can feel the heat, you know you’re too close,” Sefcik said.

City officials are scheduled to have a press conference with updates on the crash and scene at 11:30 a.m. 

State police assuming investigation into crash, scene remains active

State police are taking the lead on the investigation, said Norwalk police Lt. Robert Zwillich, who reported to the scene just before 6 a.m.

As traffic piled up on Norwalk’s side streets, a tractor-trailer caught a sagging wire in front of 79 Cedar St., said Bryce Micah, a senior lineman for South Norwalk Electric and Water. He said the road was not shut down and that SNEW bucket trucks responded.  

Nearby, a cashier at Old Post Spirit shop, Carlos Quinga, on the corner of Cedar St. and Fairfield Ave., said he hopes that people stuck in traffic can stop in and get some non-alcoholic refreshments.

Quinga said he lives nearby, on Golden Hill, and got stuck in a bit of traffic when he drove to work.

“It’s my first time seeing traffic like this,” Quinga said. “Crazy.”

Darien officials tell motorists to expect delays

Shortly after 10 a.m., the Darien Police Department issued a statement on social media that the town was experiencing major traffic delays because of the situation on I-95.

Drivers were advised to expect continuous delays throughout the day and allow extra time for travel.

Motorists at standstill for hours

One Bridgeport resident sat in traffic for hours en route to Stamford.

Jennifer Decoteau, an occupational therapist at Aspire Living and Learning Academy in Stamford, was stuck on Cedar Street about 10:30 a.m. and had been in traffic since 7 a.m.

She left Bridgeport at 7 a.m., got to Westport at 8 a.m., when she dropped off her children at Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Program. It took her 1 ½ hours to get to Norwalk and she still needed to get to Stamford.

Eversource plans to cut investment in CT by $500M over 5 years due to regulatory ‘uncertainty’

Andrew Larson

Eversource Energy officials said during an earnings call Thursday morning that the utility company plans to cut its capital expenditures in Connecticut by nearly $100 million in 2024, and by $500 million over the next five years, as a result of the state’s “uncertain” regulatory environment.

John Moreira, Eversource’s executive vice president, CFO and treasurer, said the reductions will continue “until we see Connecticut's regulatory decisions come back into alignment with law and state policy.”

Eversource President and CEO Joe Nolan added that he has “serious concerns” about the company’s ability to implement clean energy technologies, and to reduce carbon emissions, in light of the ongoing dispute over cost recovery.

“As it stands, regulatory policies in Connecticut discourage investment in utility innovation, as well as our participation in a wide range of clean energy initiatives that rely on our balance sheet and our capital resources,” Nolan said.

Asked by an analyst what the cuts would entail, Nolan said they could affect the reliability of service in Connecticut, which he said is currently “best in class.”

“Our investment objectives in Connecticut have been centered around safety and reliability, as you'd expect,” Nolan said. “We will not reduce our safety spending. The reduction will likely come from reliability areas.”

At the crux of the ongoing dispute between utilities and their regulator, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, is whether utilities can recover costs for upfront capital investments. Nolan said cost recovery cannot be deferred into the future, under uncertain terms.

However, PURA has said that utilities “may only earn a return on capital assets that are complete and servicing customers.”

The question is being debated in court.

An Eversource subsidiary, water utility Aquarion, has appealed a Superior Court’s decision in March which upheld most of PURA’s decision to cut $40 million from Aquarion’s proposed revenue increase last year. Aquarion has filed an appeal in Appellate Court and is asking to have the case sent to the state Supreme Court for review.

Meanwhile, Eversource is continuing to move forward with plans to sell Aquarion, Nolan said.

Connecticut’s other electric utility, United Illuminating, also has appealed a rate decision by PURA.

Nolan said he was encouraged by PURA’s decision last month to approve an $873 million rate adjustment for Eversource, which he said includes reimbursement of deferred public policy costs. The rate increase of about 18% goes into effect July 1, but should be mitigated by lower supply costs for ratepayers.

An Eversource spokesman said the rate adjustment is not for capital projects, but for pass-through costs.

The news came as Eversource reported net income of $523.7 million during the first quarter of 2024, an increase from $493 million in the year-ago period.

Eversource serves more than 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It provides electricity in 149 towns and cities in Connecticut.

Last month, Eversource announced that it was suspending its new electric vehicle charging rebates due to “uncertain regulatory treatment” in Connecticut.

States rethink data centers as ‘electricity hogs’ strain the grid

KEVIN HARDY 

State Sen. Norm Needleman championed the 2021 legislation designed to lure major data centers to Connecticut.

The Democratic lawmaker hoped to better compete with nearby states, bring in a growing industry, and provide paychecks for workers tasked with building the sprawling server farms.

But this legislative session, he’s wondering if those tax breaks are appropriate for all data centers, especially those with the potential to disrupt the state’s clean energy supply.

Particularly concerning to him are plans for a mega data center on the site of the state’s only nuclear power plant. The developer is proposing an arrangement that would give it priority access to electricity generated at the plant, which would mean less carbon-free power for other users.

“That affects our climate goals,” he said. “It’s additional demand of renewable energy that we would have to replace.”

Needleman, co-chair of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee, is now reconsidering details of the state incentive program as he works on legislation to study the impact of data centers on the state’s electric grid. Mistakes now, he said, could lead to “a real crisis.”

Compared with other employers that states compete for, such as automotive plants, data centers hire relatively few workers. Still, states have offered massive subsidies to lure data centers — both for their enormous up-front capital investment and the cachet of bringing in big tech names such as Apple and Facebook. But as the cost of these subsidy programs balloons and data centers proliferate coast to coast, lawmakers in several states are rethinking their posture as they consider how to cope with the growing electricity demand.

From the outside, data centers can resemble ordinary warehouses. But inside, the windowless structures can house acres of computer servers used to power everything from social media to banking. The centers suck up massive amounts of energy to keep data moving and water to keep servers from overheating.

Data centers are the backbone of the increasingly digital world, and they consume a growing share of the nation’s electricity, with no signs of slowing down. The global consultancy McKinsey & Company predicts these operations will double their U.S. electric demands from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to 35 gigawatts by 2030 — enough electricity to power more than 26 million average homes.

Some states, including Maryland and Mississippi, continue to pursue incentives to land new data centers. But in other states, the growth of the industry is raising alarms over the reliability and affordability of local electric grids, and fears that utilities will meet the demand by leaning more heavily on fossil fuel generation rather than renewables.

In South Carolina, lawmakers have started to question whether these massive power users should continue to receive tax breaks and preferential electric rates.

In Virginia, home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, a legislative study is underway to learn more about how those operations are affecting electric reliability and affordability.

And Georgia lawmakers just passed legislation that would halt the state’s tax incentives for new data centers for two years. Georgia is home to more than 50 data centers, including those supporting AT&T, Google and UPS, according to the state commerce department.

Georgia Republican state Sen. John Albers, a sponsor of the Senate bill, said the significant growth of data centers in his state has helped communities and schools by boosting property tax revenues. But, considering factors such as water and electric use, he said the return on the state’s investment “is not there” and that “initial findings do not support credits from the state level.”

Nationwide, data center subsidies were costing state and local governments about $2 million per job created, according to a 2016 study by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks economic development incentives. That figure has certainly ballooned in recent years, said Kasia Tarczynska, the organization’s senior research analyst, who authored the report.

The Georgia bill now sits on the desk of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, whose office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Data Center Coalition, a trade group representing tech giants including Amazon, Google and Meta, is urging a veto.

Josh Levi, president of the organization, said data center companies are investing billions in new Georgia data centers, making metro Atlanta one of the nation’s biggest industry hubs.

Levi noted that lawmakers in 2022 extended the state’s tax credit program through 2031.

“The abrupt suspension of an incentive that not only has been on the books, but that was extended two years ago, I think signals tremendous uncertainty, not just for the data center industry, but more broadly,” he said.

Levi said the data center industry has been at the forefront of pushing clean energy. As of last year, data center providers and customers accounted for two-thirds of American wind and solar contracts, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence report.

“Fundamentally, data is now the lifeblood of our modern economy,” he said. “Everything that we do in our personal and professional lives really points back to data generation, processing and storage.”

‘Electricity hogs’

In fast-growing South Carolina, lawmakers have pointed to data centers as a major factor in rising electricity demand.

As part of a broader energy bill, the legislature considered a measure that would prevent data centers from receiving discounted power rates.

Republican state Rep. Jay West said inducements such as reduced power rates are appropriate for major, transformational endeavors. He pointed to the BMW factory in Spartanburg, which employs 11,000 people, draws in major suppliers and pumps millions into the state economy.

While data centers boost local property taxes receipts, they don’t do much for the state, he said, and shouldn’t receive preferential rates. And they are being built faster than new energy generation can be added.

“I do not speak for my caucus or the [legislative] body in saying this,” he said, “but I don’t think South Carolina can handle more data centers.”

The House provision on data center utility rates was quickly struck in a Senate committee, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported.

Lynn Teague, vice president of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, said that change was made with no public discussion.

Teague, who lobbies the legislature, said South Carolinians, including more than 700,000 people living in poverty, shouldn’t have to pick up the tab for tax or utility breaks for major data center firms.

“We have companies like Google with over $300 billion in revenues a year wanting these folks to subsidize their profit margin at the same time that they’re putting intense pressure on not just our energy, but our water,” she said.

Lawmakers saw data centers as a possible successor to South Carolina’s declining textile industry when they approved the data center incentives in 2012, The State reported at the time. One Republican bill sponsor, then-state Rep. Phyllis Henderson, also cited North Carolina’s success with data center incentives, saying South Carolina was “just losing projects right and left to them.”

But on the Senate floor earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, a Republican, described data centers as “electricity hogs that aren’t really providing a whole lot of jobs.”

‘Rippling effects’

Virginia has been a hub for data centers for decades, touting its proximity to the nation’s capital, inexpensive energy, a robust fiber network and low risk of natural disasters. Now, Virginia lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing the industry.

That’s in part because data centers have moved into traditionally residential areas, said Republican state Del. Ian Lovejoy, who represents a Northern Virginia district.

Over Half of March State Construction Unemployment Rates Down From a Year Ago

The March 2024 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, down 0.2 percent from the previous year, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released May 2 by Associated Builders and Contractors.

The analysis also found that 29 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, two states were unchanged (New Jersey and Oklahoma) and 19 states were higher.

National NSA payroll construction employment was 275,000 higher than in March 2023. Since February 2022, seasonally adjusted construction employment has exceeded its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million. As of March 2024, SA payroll construction employment stood at 8.2 million.

Indicating the relative tightness of the construction employment market in many states, this March, 31 states had lower construction unemployment rates compared to March 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 19 states had higher rates.

"Despite elevated interest rates, construction activity and employment continue at a healthy pace," said Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. "Builders are hiring as they seek to replace retiring workers and anticipate winning future work. Nonresidential construction activity and employment continue to benefit from federal funding and tax incentives for manufacturers, and funding for state and local infrastructure projects is strong."

Recent Month-to-Month Fluctuations

In March, every state had lower estimated construction unemployment rates than in February. The last time that all 50 states had lower rates than in the previous month was in May 2018.

The Top Five States

The five states with the lowest estimated NSA construction unemployment rates for March were:

Maryland, 1 percent

North Dakota, 1.5 percent

Utah, 1.7 percent

Iowa, 2.2 percent

Georgia, 2.3 percent

North Dakota, Iowa and Georgia each posted their lowest March NSA estimated construction unemployment rate on record. Utah notched its second-lowest March rate, behind 2022's 1.6 percent rate. Maryland had its second-lowest March rate, behind last year's 0.8 percent rate.

The Bottom Five States

The five states with the highest March estimated NSA construction unemployment rates were:

46. Illinois, 8.6 percent

47. New Jersey, 9.3 percent

48. Connecticut and Vermont (tie), 10.2 percent

50. Rhode Island, 16.2 percent

Illinois had its second-lowest March NSA estimated construction unemployment rate since 2019's 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, New Jersey had its lowest March rate since 2019, matching last year's 9.3 percent rate. Despite posting the highest construction unemployment rate, Rhode Island had the largest monthly decline in its rate, down 8.6 percent. It was followed by Connecticut and Vermont.

Route 15 and I-91 exit closures to look out for in May

Christian Metzger

MERIDEN — Drivers should expect nighttime ramp closures along Interstate 91 and Route 15 during most of mid-May. 

From May 6 to May 17, ramps will be closed Monday through Friday between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews cut and repave several exit ramps and install temporary concrete barriers in the area, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.  

During these times, the East Main Street on-ramp to Route 15 northbound, Route 15 Exits 67 and 68 NE, and I-91 northbound Exit 16 will all be closed. In addition, the shoulder and right lanes of Route 15 between the two closed exits will be closed. The same lanes will be closed on I-91 between Exits 16 and 17. 

While work is ongoing, detours will be in place to direct traffic. No ramps with conflicting detours will be closed at the same time, according to CT DOT. 

“This I-91/I-691/Route 15 interchange is a critical link for passengers and freight in the Northeast regional transportation network, connecting the I-84 and I-91 corridors between southern New York and Connecticut to points north in Massachusetts and beyond,” CT DOT says on its website. “The purpose of these projects is to address traffic operational and safety concerns associated with capacity, congestion, and weaving.”

New bridges, barriers, and road lanes to improve traffic flow will also constructed as part of the project. Two phases of the project are currently underway, with the third phase in development. 

The seven-year-long project is anticipated to cost between $400 million and $500 million and be completed in 2030. 

A complete map and list of detours for the closed exits are available online at https://www.i-91i-691route15interchange.com/.