Construction of a New Highway Maintenance Facility
Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)
Due to its ongoing responsibility of maintaining a safe environment for the traveling public, our client had no tolerance for the interruption of day-to-day operations while constructing its new maintenance facility on a very constrained site.
Client need
Unlike traditional facility construction, CTDOT highway maintenance facilities require specialized considerations due to the dynamic nature of their operations. In addition to serving as a maintenance garage for highway service vehicles, the facility needed to house employees during impactful weather events. This intermittent residential use and its life safety implications requires exceptional due diligence regarding building and fire codes, both in the design phase and throughout construction.
The assignment was complicated due to the constrained site. The team was required to construct the new building while the existing facility and site amenities were in full use, leaving little room to spare.
Our approach
M&J’s expertise in construction logistics enabled us to pinpoint hurdles and efficiently allocate resources, thus reducing schedule delays and allowing operations to continue uninterrupted. For example, leveraging our productive relationship with the entire project team, M&J worked in-kind with the designer and contractor to facilitate a feasible solution for the construction of fire-rated assemblies when inconsistencies were discovered. M&J’s meticulous attention to code compliance ensured the building was constructed to the highest life safety standard without impacting the facility’s ongoing operations.
Results
With a deep understanding of code compliance and expertise in construction management, the M&J team applied its collective foresight to navigate the challenges posed by the project. CTDOT had access to all site storage facilities, and access points were diligently maintained and prioritized throughout the construction period. Seamless communication and coordination with CTDOT Highway Maintenance staff were upheld, resulting in the successful delivery of the project.
This project was awarded the Construction Management Association of America — CT Chapter Building Project of the Year – Under $25 Million.
In our team's words
“The award-winning construction of the New Milford Maintenance Facility and demolition of the existing one is all due to the collaboration of an outstanding team. The CTDOT, Nosal Builders and the partnership of M&J Engineering and its subconsultants contributed to the team of specialized and experienced professionals who provided excellence to anticipated solutions to any issues. Dedicated staff and passionate professionals made this beautiful New Maintenance Facility a piece of art in comparison to the demoed existing one. The specialized and experienced staff ensured this project was delivered in fall 2023 as scheduled and prior to the winter season.“
— Hildaliza (Espinal) Guillen, Office Engineer