The Connecticut Port Authority (CPA) is heading into mediation with Kiewit Construction to resolve a dispute over outstanding costs related to the redevelopment of the State Pier in New London.

During a recent Board of Directors meeting, Executive Director Michael O’Connor confirmed that a plan is in the works to move the process forward. “We have our legal counsel developing the mediation plan right now, and then set about jointly between us and the contractor selecting a mediator and then seeing what we can do in mediation over a less than 2 week period of time to see if we can find a middle ground on what they’re looking for compared to what they provided to us,” O’Connor said.

The disagreement centers on two major issues: the stability of soil fill in a transit corridor and a tow wall that CPA claims was built incorrectly.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders want the State Pier to expand its use beyond offshore wind staging. O’Connor emphasized that the site’s future must include more flexibility. “It would be good if we were diversified,” he said. “We’ve seen some wind hiccups as the administration changed course at the beginning of the year. If we had two entities at the State Pier and the wind paused, the other entity could make use of the space, and if the other entity paused, the wind could make use of the space. I think there is an opportunity here to talk to everybody about what that looks like and see what can be gained from the multi-use of State Pier.”

Connecticut has already spent over $311 million redeveloping the pier, far exceeding original estimates. Initially, the site was redeveloped exclusively to serve the offshore wind industry, which thrived under the Biden administration but has faced policy reversals under the Trump administration, which has rolled back support for offshore wind and other clean energy projects.

The outcome of the mediation could shape the next phase for the State Pier, which has been at the center of Connecticut’s offshore wind ambitions and a symbol of the challenges facing clean energy infrastructure in a shifting political landscape.

Local leaders and business groups have pushed for the pier to become a multi-use facility, hoping to attract shipping, cargo, and other maritime industries alongside offshore wind to ensure steady economic activity.

The mediation is expected to last under two weeks, but if no agreement is reached, further legal steps could prolong the dispute and add to the State Pier’s already controversial price tag. Stakeholders hope a deal will free up the site for broader commercial use while clarifying responsibilities for costly fixes and upgrades.

Originally reported by Brian Scott-Smith in WSHU.