Above: NGrid bucket crews will be at work in town this month, in much barer branches than shown here, to trim limbs that endanger power lines. (2011 photo by Susan Fitzgerald)
Yesterday, the Dept of Public Works issued an alert about tree trimmings in Southborough this month — and they don’t mean hanging ornaments in the pine in your living room. Starting Monday, National Grid will cutting back tree limbs in town.
NGrid will be conducting work previously announced as part of the annual. Vegetation Management Plan approved by the Planning Board. The plan is intended to help lower incidents of limbs taking down power lines (especially during storms).
Unlike the 2011 photo I included at the top of the story — branches being trimmed should be light on leaves when crews go to work.
In recent years, the Planning Board has requested that trimmings wait for fall or winter rather than taking place in the spring. Chair Meme Luttrell explained to the Select Board that cutting in the dormant season causes less of a shock/harm to the health of the trees. (If cutting back trees harms them, that leads to more dead/unstable trees that need to be removed.)
This time of year is also when fewer animals are living in the branches.
According to the DPW’s announcement, the work will begin on Monday, December 11th and take approximately a month. Streets listed as included are:
- Boston Road
- Clifford Road
- Cordaville Road
- Deerfoot Road
- Fisher Road
- Framingham Road
- Latisquama Road
- Main Street
- Middle Road
- Newton Street
- Sears Road
- Ward Road
