Committee approves temporary state construction easement for 311 Murdock Ave

The Parks, Public Works & Recreation Committee voted to approve a temporary state construction easement for 311 Murdock Avenue to allow the Connecticut Department of Transportation to access a parcel needed to install a bridge abutment related to work at the I‑91/I‑691 interchange.

Public Works Director John Lawler told the committee the easement is limited and temporary, intended only to allow “access to the property … just to allow for the shoring and the pouring of the bridge abutment.” Committee members asked whether the easement includes a documented duration; Lawler said DOT did not request a specific time in the easement paperwork and that the broader project window is roughly two years, though he did not expect the abutment work itself to require that full period.

The committee conducted a roll-call vote because one member attended remotely. Named members Jeff Cardillo, Sonia Jelks and Joseph Scaramuzzo were recorded voting "aye." The Chair said the approved easement will be forwarded to counsel at the next meeting for finalization.

The action does not change the Council’s substantive oversight of the interchange project but grants DOT limited, temporary construction access to private property for the abutment work. The committee did not provide an explicit end date for the easement at the meeting; Lawler said that detail would likely be resolved through counsel and DOT coordination.