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Greater Cambridge Energy Project (GCEP)

Groundbreaking Ceremony

In January we broke ground on GCEP, an innovative transmission initiative designed to meet the growing energy demand driven by new residential and commercial development. 

The project features a first-of-its-kind, 35,000-square-foot underground substation located beneath a public green space and as part of a mixed-use development in the heart of Kendall Square.

Watch the entire ceremony

Why Are We Doing This Project?

The Greater Cambridge area is experiencing a surge of new residential and commercial development that, along with goals of reduction of fossil fuels in new buildings and electrification, is generating a growing demand for power.

This first-of-its-kind transmission initiative is innovatively designed to place a significant amount of needed infrastructure underground and out of sight, becoming the largest underground substation in the country at 35,000 square feet.

This project will address the increased electric demand in the region, enhance the resiliency of the transmission system and ensure a flexible grid to reliably serve customers while supporting the decarbonization and electrification goals of both the City of Cambridge and Massachusetts to lessen the impact of climate change.

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Where Is This Work Being Done?

The new underground substation will be located between Broadway and Binney Street in Kendall Square and will be integrated into a large mixed-use development project at the former Kendall Center Blue Garage site. 

This project will include five underground duct banks housing eight new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines. The transmission routes will span Boston (Allston/Brighton), Cambridge, and Somerville interconnecting to existing substations in these communities.

A partnership spearheaded by City of Cambridge officials, Eversource and BXP yielded this collaborative effort to uniquely locate the substation underground — a first of its kind in the country. Where there was once a parking garage above ground, there will be an open and accessible outdoor public community space.

EFSB approved routes:


Traffic management

Working in consultation with city officials, we are developing Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) for construction of the project. This information is posted in compliance with Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) approval, Condition G.

Final plans for specific project areas will be posted as they become available. All TMPs are subject to change and may be updated. All files are in PDF format. 

When Is The Work Being Done?

  • File siting petition with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB): March 10, 2022 (Initial Petition, Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3)
  • EFSB public hearing: June 28, 2022, November 10, 2022
  • Final decision from the EFSB: June 28, 2024
  • Start of construction: January 28, 2025
  • Estimated in-service dates: Q1 2029*
  • Construction completed: 2031*

*Dates subject to change

Additional information can be found on the Siting Board's website and on our project fact sheet. 

    Construction Updates

    We're committed to keeping neighbors, businesses and community members informed on project activities during construction. Join our email list to receive regular updates like the ones below. 

    Cambridge

    Week of June 2 

    Broadway

    • Installation of transmission line conduit within the new substation site, off the roadway at 121 Broadway.

    Third Street

    • Excavation activities are ongoing off the roadway at the corner of Third Street and Broadway (Volpe parcel) to backfill recently installed underground vaults and to install duct bank. The trench excavation and duct bank installation will soon transition onto Third Street and progress towards Linskey Way throughout the summer months.

    Linskey Way

    • Both underground vaults have been set on Linskey Way. 
    • Crews have begun trench excavation, progressing towards Third Street. Work to excavate trench and install duct bank will continue during the summer months.
    • Temporary sidewalk barriers north of the roadway will be maintained to safely secure the work zone in this area. Pedestrian detours may be necessary.

    Ames Street

    • Initial enabling work on Ames Street to support upcoming vault and duct bank installation has been completed.
    • Starting on June 2, crews will begin excavation activities to support the installation of underground vaults and duct bank. This will necessitate a closure on Ames Street between Memorial Drive and Amherst Street. Motorists should follow posted signage.

    Galileo Galilei Way

    • Two underground vaults have been set between Main Street and Broadway. Crews are currently working to backfill and temporary restore these areas. Additional work is not planned at this location until 2026.

    Upcoming activities

    • Vault installation on Ames Street between Memorial Drive and Amherst Street. 

    Work hours and traffic management

    • Approved construction hours in Cambridge are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
    • Occasional activities may be performed beyond these hours or on weekends based on approval from local officials.
    • Construction activities will generally be done utilizing lane restrictions or alternating lane traffic patterns. If detours are necessary, clear signage will be posted to direct motorists and cyclists. 
    • During daytime construction activities, Linskey Way will be one-way, allowing traffic from Third Street towards Second Street (west to east). 
    • Eastbound motorists will be detoured from Second Street to Binney Street, to Third Street, to reconnect with Linskey Way. This traffic pattern will continue regularly throughout the summer months.
    • Southbound traffic on Ames Street will be detoured to Wadsworth Street. Ames Street will remain open to northbound traffic beyond Amherst Street. The detour will be in place during daytime work hours.
    • Starting June 2, project activities will necessitate a permanent work zone setup and road closure on Ames Street between Memorial Drive and Amherst Street. Bike lanes will remain open.
    • Refer to the traffic management section to see traffic reconfiguration plans.

    Community Outreach

    We're committed to continuing our collaborative working partnership with each local community, municipal leaders and other interested stakeholders.

    Our public outreach efforts began in 2019 and we held our first public open house in 2021. We will continue to engage and solicit feedback from a diverse cross-section of neighborhoods that the project will traverse.

    City officials, residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders will be kept informed about project happenings and activities through municipal briefings, mailings, virtual meetings, in-person meetings, constant contact and door-to-door outreach. 

    Past outreach efforts

    All files are in PDF format unless otherwise noted.

    Information Available in Additional Languages

    Español (Spanish)

    Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole)

    Português (Portuguese)

     

    中文（普通话）(Chinese Mandarin)

     

    Have Questions?

    Keeping the lines of communication open is an important part of our work in your community.

    For more information about this project, please call the project information hotline at 1-833-836-0302 or email ProjectInfoMA@eversource.com.