Fuss & O’Neill designed the Discovery Drive extension to complete the connection from North Eagleville Road to Route 44 in Storrs, Connecticut. This new roadway was designed to serve the University’s Technology Park. It created a new entrance to the University, allowing additional access to Gampel Pavilion.

In addition to the complete roadway design through previously wooded land, we performed structural engineering, drainage design, utility design, wetlands delineation and mitigation, amphibian habitat preservation, traffic signal design, landscape architecture and full resident representation and construction inspection in accordance with Connecticut Department of Transportation requirements.

Key issues included sizing utilities for future development demands potential wetlands, listed species, traffic, and farmland impacts, as well as secondary impacts associated with developing the North Campus for technology and research land uses.

We prepared of a comprehensive study to analyze structure types to minimize the impact of the proposed roadway to existing wetlands in three locations. An order of magnitude construction cost estimate was prepared for each option at each wetland’s crossing. After consultation with CTDOT, a structure type for each wetlands crossing was selected and designed. Our team also prepared the necessary permits for the project, including Army Corps of Engineers Individual Permit, CTDEEP Flood Management, Inland Wetlands and Construction Stormwater Permits.