Published in the November 10, 2020 edition.
WAKEFIELD – National Grid’s Woburn-to-Wakefield underground transmission line project continues with three active work sites on Salem Street, where crews are continuing with excavation and duct bank installation.
Crews have completed duct bank installation on Salem Street between Chapman Road and the Route 128 ramps.
Beginning today, per Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) requirements, an overnight work schedule will be in place during duct bank installation in the area of the Route 128 ramps on Salem Street. Work at this location will take place Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and continue throughout November pending a weekly weather approval from MassDOT. There will be limited access to the ramps during the overnight work hours.
Crews continue to make progress at a second work site on Salem Street between the intersection of New Salem and Salem streets and Houston Street. Salem Street between Vernon Street and the New Salem and Salem Street intersection will be closed to all through-traffic. Residential and emergency vehicles will have access to the street with the help of police details on site.
Another crew on Salem Street continues working their way through the Lowell Street intersection. While working in this intersection the traffic management plan will keep Salem Street closed to through-traffic from Wharton Park to Eunice Circle. Residential and emergency vehicles will have access to the street with the help of police details on site.
As part of an ongoing effort to complete work as safely and as efficiently as possible, crews plan to extend their work on Salem Street through the close of business on Saturday, November 14 (barring inclement weather and pending the availability of police details).
Regarding the reopening of Broadway, the Wakefield DPW is in communication with the Federal Rail Association (FRA). Further updates will be forthcoming.
As duct bank construction continues, the Wakefield Police Department has the option to modify the traffic management plans based on their judgement and expertise, including street closures and traffic detours to ensure the safety of the general public. Police details will be present at work sites to facilitate vehicle and pedestrian traffic management. Caution is recommended when approaching these active work areas to minimize risks to personal safety, and to avoid any interference with construction.
Due to COVID-19 National Grid has enacted additional policies and guidelines for field and office personnel that are in line with the Commonwealth’s Guidelines and Procedures for construction as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines.
To improve reliability and address growing electricity demands identified by ISO-NE, National Grid and Eversource have teamed up to implement the Greater Boston and New Hampshire Solution, comprised of various projects in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
One of the proposed projects is the Woburn to Wakefield Line, a new 345-kilovolt (kV) underground transmission line that will connect Eversource’s Woburn Substation in Woburn and National Grid’s Wakefield Junction Substation in Wakefield. The proposed line will extend approximately 8.5 miles between two existing substations, passing through Woburn, Winchester, Stoneham, and Wakefield, MA. The project also includes improvements within the existing fence lines of the Woburn and Wakefield Substations.
Eversource will be constructing the new line from the Woburn substation through Woburn, Winchester and Stoneham. National Grid will complete construction from the Stoneham/Wakefield border to the Wakefield Junction Substation.
Anyone with questions about any current or upcoming work, may contact a member of the project outreach team by emailing info@ma-nhsolution.com or by calling the project hotline at 1-844-646-8427.
