What's going on with the Route 25 Connector?

Can anyone tell me what the purpose of all the construction/destruction going on with the Rt 25 Connector stretch from the Merritt Parkway interchange to the end at Rt 111?

The workers are digging what appear to be "graves" randomly across all three lanes of the highway.  There is no apparent rhyme or reason for the pattern and we don't see anything like pipes for drainage being installed.

Can anyone offer an explanation?  I can't wait until the barrels are removed.

Thanks!