Above: Last fall, NGrid announced a planned project to upgrade the Electricity Transmission poles that run through town. (images edited from contributed materials)
A reader’s question about the work being done by reservoirs and on area trails is prompting me to remind readers about an announcement made by National Grid last fall.
The utility had issued a “courtesy” notice about their planned Refurbishment Project in Southborough, Project D-156.
You may have seen big construction trucks moving in and out of areas by the reservoir. (Or, like a reader who complained to me, you may have heard pounding from work being done on trails near you.)
Those who looked on the National Grid site for construction projects may have been unable to find any project in Southborough. Instead of it being listed under the projects in Central Mass, the work is categorized as a Boston project.
Project D-156 focuses on the 5.5 mile overhead transmission line in Southborough that runs from the substation on Northborough Road to south of Nichols Street. (See map right or click here for the pdf.)
The utility company is working to replace the aging infrastructure of 42 poles (most of which are wooden) with improved “weathered steel” models to “improve reliability”.
Last fall’s communications acknowledged that some poles “may be slightly relocated or increased in height to meet engineering standards and protect the environment.”
At that time, I followed up to ask about the potential height changes and was told:
It does vary by structure, but the majority of structures will increase in height between 5 ft. and 20 ft.
The work will mainly be from 7:00 am – 5:00 pm on weekdays, with some Saturday work. It includes:
- Vegetation management, including brush removal and mowing, beginning as early as December.
- Site preparation including installation of environmental controls, maintaining and improving gravel access roads and work pads, and installing wood timber mats in wetland and environmentally sensitive areas.
- Large construction vehicles entering and existing the work sites.
- Placement of electrical and construction equipment within the right-of-way.
Work began in December, and is expected to continue until January 2027.
The forum in early November wasn’t a presentation. But NGrid did invite the public to come speak with representatives and ask any question. (They promised to have reps there for Project Management, Engineering, Construction Planning, Environmental, and Stakeholder Management.)
Fortunately, those who missed the forum are still able to reach out to ask questions. The FAQs for the project promise that the Project Engagement team will continue to be available while the work is in progress. You can contact them through the Project Hotline at 781-236-6286 or email Julia.Kaplan@nationalgrid.com.
But before you do, check out the Project Fact Sheet here. And you can find more details here.
