Gary Turco

Great news for New Britain: 

The city was awarded $6.4 million in state funding for improvements along the John Downey Drive corridor. The funding, awarded through the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LOTCIP), is administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).

The John Downey Drive project was one of 17 selected statewide for this round of funding.

The John Downey Drive corridor is one of the largest commercial and light industrial sites in New Britain. It also serves key local institutions including Lincoln Technical School and Alvarium Beer Company. With more than 6,500 vehicles traveling the road daily, the area has seen steady growth in recent years.

The project includes pavement milling and overlay, updated traffic signals, roadway narrowing, new concrete sidewalks with ADA-compliant ramps, improved drainage, and enhanced pavement markings and signage.

One of the best aspects of this grant is that CTDOT not only provides the funding, but also handles the federal regulatory process. My legislative colleagues and I are optimistic these improvements will attract new investment and create jobs for New Britain residents.

A pool of mosquitoes has tested positive for West Nile Virus in Easton, Bridgeport and Stamford, according to the CT Mosquito Management Program.

While there have been no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Connecticut so far this season, a reminder that residents should take steps to prevent mosquito bites at this time of year. Those steps include the following:

• Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• While outdoors, use mosquito repellents containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA registration of skin-applied repellent products indicates that they have been evaluated and approved for human safety and effectiveness when applied according to instructions on the label.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are more active. Clothing should be light-colored, loose-fitting, and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
• Wear clothing and gear treated with permethrin, an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes and ticks.
• Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.
• When sleeping outdoors, use tents or mosquito netting in an unscreened structure. Treat camping gear with permethrin when possible.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito nets when outside.

For more information on the latest testing results and locations visit: the CT Mosquito Management Program and the CT Agricultural Experiment Station.