The Connecticut State Pier in New London, a critical hub for offshore wind turbine projects, faces costly repairs after flaws were identified in its $311 million renovation. According to Paul Whitescarver, chairman of the state Port Authority, two key areas— a retaining wall and a transportation corridor— need reengineering or complete reconstruction.

The retaining wall's issues stem from bent steel pilings during installation, while the transportation corridor was filled with the wrong type of soil. Fixing these problems will cost millions and may take years, with work possibly extending until 2027 due to ongoing wind project activity at the pier.

The Port Authority holds the construction company, Kiewit, responsible for the mistakes, as they oversaw the project. Whitescarver made it clear that the Port Authority would not cover the costs, but Kiewit has denied fault, stating the issues arose due to site conditions that differed from the contract’s stipulations. "The issues noted by the CPA can be directly traced to site conditions that did not match those identified in the contract," said Teresa Shada, a spokeswoman for Kiewit.

If the Port Authority has to shoulder the cost, it will deplete most of the remaining $1.7 million in the budget, and additional costs may escalate to tens of millions. "A fuller rebuild of the toe wall could cost around $17 million," warned Whitescarver, adding that even more extensive work could be necessary on the transportation corridor.

The new pier’s cost has already soared far beyond the original $93 million budget, drawing frustration from lawmakers. Sen. Heather Somers (R-Groton) criticized the ongoing costs, stating, "When they learn that more than a quarter of a billion dollars of their money has gone to this project, they are disgusted." Despite these challenges, the Port Authority reassured legislators that the identified flaws were typical in large projects and that wind energy operations at the site remain unaffected.

Governor Ned Lamont supports the stance that Kiewit should bear responsibility for the costs. His spokesperson, Julia Bergman, emphasized that the pier's renovation was crucial for Connecticut’s role in the offshore wind industry, and the facility is now capable of handling a wider range of cargo when not in use by the wind industry.

The situation remains fluid, but the potential costs of addressing these issues continue to raise concerns among state lawmakers and taxpayers.