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05/12/2015 04:00 PMJust in time for the summer travel season, two gas station projects in Madison are almost set to wrap up. Henny Penny on Boston Post Road is due to be finished by Memorial Day, and the southbound I-95 rest stop is projected to be completed by mid June.
The I-95 rest stop will be the final result of a process years in the making. Project Services LLC, owned by Paul Landino, is handling the reconstruction of 23 plazas along Route 15, I-395, and I-95. The project began in 2008, when Project Services began operating the fuel and food services following the expiration of prior agreements, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Landino became motivated to do the project because the previous service plazas, originally built in the ‘40s and ‘50s, were old and in disrepair. The plan was to not only upgrade the services with state-of-the-art technology, but to also integrate the look of the structures in keeping with the New England shoreline, and provide a place for people to congregate.
“The theme is common with the rest of them: a little bit New England and a blend of maritime,” said Landino.
The facility itself is completely new, including an advanced treatment septic system designed to pre-treat sewage, new fuel tanks and lines, truck electrification, and a security camera system.
The security camera system at one of the completed facilities, which takes detailed shots that can identify license plates and monitor the highway as well as the plazas, has already been of assistance to the police.
The truck electrification is one of the improvements designed to reduce the environmental impact. Trucks can connect to a system that provides air conditioning, heating, and WiFi so that truckers can shut off their trucks, lessening exhaust.
Solar panels are installed on the canopies to aid in providing light to the plaza. The plazas are also equipped with back-up generators that will ensure that the facility will be fully operational during a power outage.
Landino is finding ways to bring in new services that people may want, highlighting local businesses. He is negotiating with a bank in order to provide a full-service branch and even has an idea to implement DMV services, inspired by DMV substations at plazas in Massachusetts.
The projects are fully funded by investors using no taxpayer money. Although the state owned and operated the plazas previously, now Project Services LLC will manage and care for the facilities. The state provided the land and will be paid rent for its use. Another plus is the job creation in both constructing and operating the businesses.
The Henny Penny, owned by Hendel’s, Inc., is also having the fuel-pumping units replaced since reaching the expiration date of the previous tanks, and the company is using the opportunity to make improvements.
The improvements include state-of-the-art technology and containment, according to Hendel’s spokesperson Terry Crowley.
“The pumps will be the latest and greatest of dispensers,” said Crowley.
The new tanks will be double-wall fiberglass with new piping, diesel will be added that is accessible to small commercial trucks, and the new pumps will be as up-to-date as possible, improving the speed of transactions.