Traffic Alert: Dog Lane to be closed temporarily on Wed, June 29

To maintain safety for the many expected attendees and for passing motorists, Dog Lane will be closed from the intersection with Storrs Road (Route 195) to the intersection with Willowbrook Road during the ceremonial groundbreaking for Storrs Center.

The road will close at approximately 4:30 pm and will reopen following the event.  Visitor parking will be available in the E O Smith High School parking lot (1235 Storrs Road).

Please contact the Mansfield Downtown Partnership (860.429.2740 or mdp@mansfieldct.org) with questions about the temporary road closure or to RSVP for the groundbreaking event.

Ceremonial Groundbreaking: Wednesday, June 29

Image courtesy of BL Companies Architects.

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership, Storrs Center master developer Storrs Center Alliance, (an affiliate of LeylandAlliance LLC, of Tuxedo, New York), and co-developer Education Realty Trust, Inc. (EDR), based in Memphis, Tennessee, will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday, June 29 at 5 p.m. to celebrate the start of construction for Storrs Center, a new mixed-use town center to be located adjacent to the University of Connecticut in the Town of Mansfield, Connecticut. 

One of the most exciting public/private initiatives in the state, Storrs Center will include new retail, restaurant, office, and residential development within a planned community of pedestrian walkways, green spaces, and conservation areas. 

The event is open to the public and will be held at 1266 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT, at the intersection of Storrs Road and Dog Lane.  Parking is available at E.O. Smith High School at 1235 Storrs Road. RSVP to the Mansfield Downtown Partnership at 860-429-2740 or mdp@mansfeldct.org if you would like to attend.

Traffic Alert: Utilities work along Dog Lane

Motorists traveling on Dog Lane this week and next week should be advised that there will be utilities work underway near the Bishop Centerparking lots. At varying times in the next two weeks, there may be vehicles on one or both sides of the road.  Due to the location of the utilities, it is likely the vehicles will need to park near the crest of the hill which may impede upon the field of vision for oncoming traffic.

Demolition Update

The site of the former Publications building

The demolition of the former Publications building is nearly complete. The removal of remaining materials and the filling of the hole where the building sat will take place in the next week.

Work has begun on the demolition of 13 Dog Lane (the former Select Physical Therapy building). Once the interior work is completed, then the exterior structure will be torn down. Meanwhile, the interior work on 14 Dog Lane (the former Nayden Health Clinic building across the street) will begin in the coming week.



The demo of 13 Dog Lane has begun.





Construction Traffic



The initial site work for Storrs Center is now well underway. This work includes the demolition of the former Publications building (1266 Storrs Road), the former Select Physical Therapy building (13 Dog Lane), and the former Nayden Health Clinic (14 Dog Lane). Work on the Bishop Center parking lots has also begun.

Each project requires specific equipment and deliveries of materials. There is also removal of materials associated with the demolitions in particular. The amount of construction-related traffic in the project area – currently centered around the Storrs Road/Dog Lane intersection up to Bishop Lane – has increased steadily as work progresses.

Residents, visitors, and workers in the area are advised to proceed with caution through this area. While every effort is being made to manage traffic flow, there may be delays as the construction vehicles navigate the site. 

Please remember to drive slowly through the construction area and maintain a safe distance between yourself and oversized vehicles.

Down to the foundation

More Projects Begin



With the work on the parking lots near the Bishop Center now underway, the entrance to the Bishop Center on Dog Lane has been closed to both pedestrians and vehicles.  Please use the entrance located on Storrs Road/Route 195.





This photo is from early Friday morning.
The exterior walls of the building are now demolished.





As mentioned in earlier posts, the demolition of the Publications building is proceeding apace (please see the above photo).  The abatement of 14 Dog Lane (the former Nayden Health Clinic building) has begun.  Once the abatement is finished for both 14 and 13 Dog Lane (former Select Physical Therapy building), then the demolition of those two building will commence.  The parking lots of both buildings are now closed.

Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists should be aware of the increasing presence of construction vehicles in the area, especially around the intersection of Dog Lane and Storrs Road.  Please use caution when traveling near these areas.

The exterior work has begun!

Demolition Continues

The work on the former Publications building will continue this week. While most of the work to date has been on the interior, work on the exterior will begin soon.

Demolition of 13 and 14 Dog Lane (former Select Physical Therapy and Nayden Health Clinic buildings, respectively) will begin soon. As with the former Publications building, the first steps will be to complete any interior work before anything will be done to the exterior of the building.

And, the University will begin work on its sanitary sewer upgrade next week. The sewer line runs along Storrs Road, but most of the work will be done underground. Traffic in both directions will be maintained, although it may be slower at times to accommodate the work in progress.