General |
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Why are you upgrading the transmission lines in this area?
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Today, in the Greater Springfield and north-central Connecticut areas, the electric transmission system can become overloaded during certain operating conditions even with all transmission lines in service. That means that line outages threaten reliable service in the region during periods of high power demands. The Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP) is being built to address this reliability problem and to meet mandatory federal and regional reliability standards. The project will also strengthen the interstate transfer of electricity and enhance the performance of the high-voltage transmission network that serves southern New England.
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Where is the project route?
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GSRP is a 39-mile transmission upgrade project that will improve electric reliability in southern New England. The 27-mile Massachusetts portion will pass through Ludlow, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Agawam. The route will then continue 12 miles into Suffield, East Granby and Bloomfield, Connecticut. Generally, construction will occur within the existing utility right-of-way.
View the project route.
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What is being constructed?
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GSRP spans two states, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The 39 miles of new and/or reconstructed overhead transmission lines include:
- 23 miles of new 345 kilovolt (kV) overhead line, with some reconstructed 115-kV overhead lines, within the same existing or expanded rights-of-way in Massachusetts
- Four miles of new and reconstructed 115-kV overhead lines within other existing rights-of-way in Massachusetts
- 12 miles of new 345-kV overhead line in Connecticut within existing rights-of-way
- Three major substation upgrades: two in Massachusetts, one in Connecticut
- Two new switching stations in Massachusetts
On September 28, 2010, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) approved the Massachusetts portion of GSRP. To see the construction plans for the Massachusetts portion of the line, click here
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When will construction begin?
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Construction started at the new Cadwell Switching Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, and existing Agawam Substation in Agawam, Massachusetts, in early December 2010. Overhead line construction is scheduled to begin in early 2011 in all five Massachusetts towns. It is expected that construction will begin at the North Bloomfield Substation in Bloomfield, Connecticut, in mid 2011, with overhead line construction starting in the three Connecticut towns in late 2011. Activity will not be constant in any particular area; rather, it will occur in stages over the entire construction process. |
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How long will construction take?
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The entire construction process is expected to take about three years.
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How will I know where and when work is planned?
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Property owners whose property is near the affected rights-of-way will be kept informed of planned construction activities through mailings, pocket door hangers and other communication methods, as appropriate.
This website also includes timely, town-by-town construction updates that can be easily accessed by the public.
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What are the hours of construction?
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Work will generally be conducted from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday — Friday in the utility right-of-way (excluding holidays or unusual circumstances, such as construction activities requiring electrical outages of nearby facilities for worker safety). There are some non-residential or industrial areas in Agawam, Chicopee and Springfield where work is permitted from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday — Saturday, excluding holidays and unusual circumstances. |
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How will we know if workers on or near the right-of-way are associated with your project?
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All WMECo personnel and contractors associated with GSRP are required to carry proper identification. If you have concerns, feel free to contact the project hotline at 1-866-99-NEEWS (1-866-996-3397) or email NEEWS@nu.com.
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Stages of Construction |
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What can I expect during construction?
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Learn more about the construction of overhead transmission lines.
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About Vegetation Clearing, Restoration and Planting |
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Why does vegetation along the rights-of-way need to be cleared?
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The first step in the construction process is clearing rights-of-way of vegetation to provide safe access for construction equipment. This vegetation clearing is limited to areas where construction work and, ultimately, clearances for safe line operation are required. Clearing methods involve the selective clearing of tall growing trees; cutting trees close to the ground; allowing roots to remain in the ground; and following best management practices for harvesting. No herbicides are used during the construction clearing process.
You can read more about how NU manages vegetation on its rights-of-way, including a helpful guide for planting in and around transmission rights-of-way. In particular, we suggest you review the Tree and Shrub Planting Guide, which provides height guidelines and other considerations for planting in these areas.
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Can I keep the wood from trees cleared from my property?
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Yes. Property owners whose land is crossed by a transmission line right-of-way being cleared may retain all or a portion of the wood from the trees cleared from their property. You can learn more about the process for requesting wood.
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Will my property be restored at the completion of construction?
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Yes. Disturbed areas will be restored at the completion of construction.
- Wetland mats and any stone or other materials brought in during construction that are no longer needed or permitted to remain are removed.
- Disturbed areas to support construction, such as temporary access roads and construction areas, are seeded with a conservation grass seed mix.
- Native shrubs and groundcover are allowed to re-grow.
- Environmental controls are removed, though some may remain until the area is stabilized.
In areas that were previously landscaped, the project personnel work with property owners to restore the area to its pre-construction condition in a manner that is compatible with NU's operations and maintenance activities. Before construction is complete, a project representative will contact affected property owners to develop property-specific restoration plans. These plans will require the final approval of both the property owner and the project.
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Other Impacts |
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Is my septic system, sprinkler system or invisible dog fence in danger of being damaged by construction?
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Prior to the start of construction, GSRP project personnel are available to meet with abutting property owners to review the locations of any underground facilities. As part of this conversation, we work with property owners to identify and mark underground facilities within or near the rights-of-way If you would like to notify us of any underground facilities on your property, or if damages do inadvertently occur during construction activities, please call the project hotline at 1-866-99-NEEWS (1-866-996-3397) or email NEEWS@nu.com.
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How will you discourage unauthorized access to the rights-of-way?
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With prior approval from the property owner, the project personnel will install gates to deter unauthorized access to the right-of-way where the affected locations are readily accessible to the public, such as public road crossings. Prior to any gate installation, the property owner will need to sign a gate agreement that outlines the policies and maintenance associated with that gate. You can read more about this under "Managing Access to Transmission Rights-of-Way."
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GSRP - MA - Construction Q&As
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