Another downtown demo project begins in Meriden

Published: October 28, 2014 | Last Modified: October 28, 2014 01:10AM

By Molly Callahan Record-Journal staff

Demolition of the former YMCA and Stone Insurance building at 88 State St. in Meriden began Monday to make room for a parking lot for a new train station on the New Haven- Hartford-Springfield rail line. Work in surrounding towns in preparation for new train stations is also underway.

Demolition of the State Street building follows the award of a $58.8 million station construction contract to New York-based Judlau Construction, announced by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last week.

John Bernick, assistant rail administrator at the state Department of Transportation, said Monday that the state received six bids for the work and accepted the lowest bid, per state regulations. He added that the DOT follows explicit regulations to go with the lowest bidder in selecting contractors and does not have the leeway to select contractors based on location or other factors.

The contract includes building stations and platforms in Meriden, Wallingford and Berlin, in addition to site work and the demolition of the Meriden building. The demolition will clear space for a 79-space lot on State Street.

Construction on the stations will begin this fall. They are expected to be complete by late 2016, when the entire rail service will be launched, according to a statement from the governors office.

The rail project means improved track and signals along the 62-mile corridor, upgrades to bridges and culverts to accommodate double tracking, upgrades to at-grade crossings to enhance safety, improving existing stations and building new ones, and providing new train equipment.

Improvements at the stations will include high-level platforms on both sides of the tracks, overhead pedestrian bridges with new elevators and stair towers, platform snow-melt systems, electric vehicle charging stations, ticket vending machines and passenger information display systems, PA and high-resolution video surveillance systems, as well as improved access and parking from the street, according to the statement.

Bernick said construction is based on the contractors schedule, but would likely begin this fall before pausing over the winter, and then starting heavily in the spring. While construction is underway, local roads will be in various stages of closure.

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Another downtown demo project begins in Meriden