Council grants National Grid request to install underground conduits on Union Street with neighbor notification

At a public hearing on Jan. 9, the Salem City Council granted National Grid permission to install underground conduits on Union Street to serve new condominiums at 13 Hawthorne Boulevard.

Sabita Mahabershihi, representing National Grid, told the council the work is to provide service for the new condos at 13 Hawthorne Boulevard and that all work will be underground. Councilors asked that abutters be notified when driveways or the street will be blocked; Councilor Varela described a traffic problem she experienced on Union Street and asked that signage and notifications be clear to prevent illegal turns into the one-way street. National Grid’s representative said the contractor will inform abutters and that a police detail will be present during the work.

Councilor Jerslow moved to grant the request with the amendment that abutters be notified when driveways are blocked or if the street will be closed; the council approved the motion.

Why it matters: The conduits will enable service to a new housing development and will require localized street work; neighbors requested advance notification and police details to manage traffic and safety during construction.

What’s next: The contractor will notify abutters and coordinate police details; the work is to be performed underground as described in the hearing record.