DOT reorganization

Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s first major attempt to reorganize the scandal-plagued state Department of Transportation is already creating an angry backlash within the agency, according to several state officials...

"It’s been received with unbelievable grumbling and created unbelievable animosity," said one DOT official, who asked not to be identified...

"This is one where the (DOT) bureaucracy wants to draw a line in the sand and say it’s not going to let this work," the state official said. "It’s really a test of whether the commissioner can overcome bureaucratic resistance."...

The final trigger for the reform was a massive construction debacle on a project to widen Interstate 84 in Cheshire and Waterbury...

The scandal has resulted in a federal grand jury investigation and a state lawsuit against the contractor, the now-defunct L.G. Defelice of North Haven, and the consultant hired to perform I-84 inspections, the Maguire Group Inc. of New Britain....

However, not a single DOT official responsible for overseeing the I-84 project has been disciplined since construction flaws were first discovered 19 months ago. (NHR, by Greg Hladky)

I'm glad to see that something is finally happening. Regardless, I still think there needs to be serious consequences for all parties involved in the I-84 debacle, including for what democratic state Senator Gary Lebeau described as the "nexus" of the debacle... the inspectors... the Maguire Group.

Tim White