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Council approves Eversource overhead conductor locations in New Bedford with police-detail amendment
Summary
The council opened public hearings on four Eversource overhead-conductor locations, received the applications, and granted the orders as amended to require police detail at roadway crossings after a councilor’s amendment passed.
The New Bedford City Council on May 8 opened public hearings for four requests from Cornerstone Energy Services on behalf of Eversource (Enstar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource) to locate overhead conductors on city streets and then approved the orders as amended to require police detail while work is done over certain roadways.
Councilors read three separate placement requests: (1) 100 feet of overhead conductors on Flaherty Drive approximately 823 feet southerly of its intersection with Samuel Barnett Boulevard; (2) 200 feet on Duchesne Boulevard approximately 575 feet southerly of Samuel Barnett Boulevard; (3) 70 feet on Phillips Road approximately 351 feet northerly of Birchwood Drive; and (4) 60 feet on Acushnet Avenue approximately 1,003 feet northerly of Almy Street. The work is part of a project to extend a 115-kilovolt transmission line from Acushnet to Fall River to improve system reliability.
John Perrin of Cornerstone Energy Services, who prepared the location applications, told the council the conductor crossings would be overhead and that pole and conductor heights would generally be "probably anywhere depending on the road, but 47 to 60 feet above each 1 of the roads." Anthony, identified as community relations for Eversource, said any tree trimming would be limited to the existing rights of way and that wetland permits would be obtained if required.
The council received the applications and opened the hearings. Councilor Linda Morad moved to amend the orders for the four items to require police detail at major intersections and in the Business Park while the work is performed over roadways; Councilor Ryan Perera seconded the amendment. The amendment passed on voice vote, and the council then granted the orders as amended.
Councilors and company representatives described construction impacts as limited: crews typically pull guide wires and then the conductor across a road, a crossing frequently completed in a single day; a traffic-management plan was described and the contractor said protective devices such as temporary "batwings" would be used to shield traffic during crossings. Eversource confirmed that any trimming would be within existing rights of way and that any required wetland permitting would be pursued.
The council’s vote authorized the overhead conductor placements with the added requirement for police detail at the roadway crossings as amended.
