State OKs funds for highway improvements

Safety improvements to Interstate 95 and money for two new phases for Bridgeport’s Cherry Street Loft development project were approved by the State Bond Commission on Friday.

The two-mile I-95 project between exits 16 and 17 in Norwalk and Westport will add a concrete median barrier as well as reconstruction of the road's shoulder, rehabilitating pavement and improving three bridges.

The project will cost $70 million, said state Sen. Will Haskell, D-Westport. The state bond commission will release $38.83 million, with an additional $28.05 million and $3.12 million in federal funds for the project’s completion.

“This funding will provide significant safety improvements on a stretch of highway that thousands of my constituents travel on every day.” Haskell said. “I'm hopeful that this project is only the beginning of amuch larger project to overhaul Fairfield County's transportation system, a regional system that has too often been neglected at the state and federal level."

Other transportation funding approved Friday included $34.5 million for Interstate 84 and Route 8 interchange improvements in Waterbury, I-95 improvements to reduce congestion between New Haven and the New York state line and design for widening the Exit 27A bridge to northbound Route 8 in Bridgeport.

In Bridgeport, $3.7 million will be used to finance investigation, remediation and abatement needed to support Phases III and IV of the Cherry Street Lofts Development around the intersection of

Railroad Avenue and Hancock Avenue.

In 2018, the first tenants moved into the 140 units of Cherry Street Lofts during the project’s first phase.

The development has been in the works since 2013. Corvus Capital set out to transform the block of blighted factory buildings along Interstate 95 into apartments and retail space.

Mayor Joe Ganim said, “Years ago, I talked about this area being a visual gateway to Bridgeport. This project’s impact on our visual skyline is only matched by the tangible growth felt in the West End. The additional support from the tate will go a long way toward continuing that progress.”

Also approved Friday:

$3.5 million for a loan to Torrington Riverfront LLC to assist with development of a new 60 unit affordable rental development on Franklin Street in Torrington.

$2,509,725 to the Housing Authority of the town of Plymouth to assist with rehabilitation of the 60 unit Gosinski Park elderly affordable housing development.

$2,983,300 for a loan to Armstrong Court Phase III Limited Partnership to assist with the redevelopment of Armstrong Court, an affordable rental housing development in

Greenwich. This phase consists of total rehabilitation of three buildings.

⏩ $15 million in competitive grants for school security.

⏩ $3 million to the Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection for body cameras and digital data storage.

⏩ $2.8 million in state funding for new synthetic school athletic fields, scoreboard and facilities at Scalise Field in Berlin.