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Sudbury to Hudson Transmission Reliability Project
Why Are We Doing This Project?
This new,115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line is one of a group of projects designed to improve the reliability of the electric system serving the Greater Boston area, both today and in the future.
Where Is This Work Being Done?
The new line is being constructed between the Eversource substation in Sudbury, and the Hudson Light and Power substation in Hudson. Sign up to receive routine email updates about the project.
The approved route includes 7.6 miles of underground line within an existing, inactive Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) railroad corridor, passing through Sudbury, Marlborough, Stow and Hudson. The remaining 1.4 miles of line is being built under streets in Hudson. Click here to sign up to receive routine email updates about the project.
Eversource is working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to co-locate compatible uses within the existing, inactive MBTA corridor. Eversource will conduct the civil work and bridge replacement to prepare the site, install the new transmission line and leave a compacted gravel sub-base to support the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail (MCRT). After the Eversource project is complete, DCR will pave their trail, install safe road crossings and complete final restoration of this publicly accessible shared-use path. This partnership and close coordination of projects has been designed to avoid and minimize impacts to environmental resource areas while leaving behind a key recreational asset.
* View the interactive project map
Traffic Management and Rail Trail Access
Working in consultation with town officials, we developed Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) for construction of the project.
The TMPs include conditions specific to routing by the EFSB in its decision, a detailed site plan showing underground line location, hours of construction, and area-specific traffic controls. All TMPs are subject to change and may be updated often. Due to size, TMPs may take extra time to open/download.
We, in partnership with local officials, developed a plan detailing access and time of year restrictions to rail trails, between White Pond Road and Dutton Road, that intersect with the MBTA corridor.
During construction (including after hours and on weekends), we ask people in the area to avoid walking along and crossing the inactive MBTA corridor. Two crossings of the MBTA corridor will be put in place from May 1 through July 31 during the project construction: one at the Town Line and one at the Marsh to Desert Trail. There may be potential for additional periods of time for these crossings to be open and notice will be provided.
When Is The Work Being Done?
- Filed Environmental Notification Form for review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA): May 15, 2017
- Received Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR): September 14, 2018
- Filed siting petition with the EFSB: April 20, 2017
- EFSB public hearings: May 25 and June 1, 2017
- Received EFSB approval: December 17, 2019
- Start of construction: Q4 2022
- Projected in-service date: December 2023 (subject to change)
About this project
- Route length: 9 miles
- Line voltage: 115,000-volt (115-kV) transmission line
- Siting review: Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB)
Construction Updates
We're committed to keeping neighbors, businesses and community members informed on project activities during construction.
You can sign up to receive email updates like the ones below:
This work will not interrupt your electric service.
Sudbury
Week of 3/20/2023
In the inactive MBTA corridor, work proceeds with vegetation clearing, followed by erosion control installation and rail/tie removal. From there, grading of the limits of work happens. After these enabling activities are finished, crews excavate and install cable vaults and duct bank.
From the Town line to Bridge 128, grading of the limits of work will continue starting soon. Between Dutton Road and Peakham Road, grading of the limits of work is ongoing. From Peakham Road to Hose Pond Road, Eversource contractors are finishing grading the limits of work. Between Union Ave and Boston Post Road, removal of rails and ties is on-going and will be followed by grading within the limits of work. Between Boston Post Road and Bridge 127, crews are working to install erosion controls and removing rails and ties. Between Bridge 127 and the Sudbury Substation, crews are installing wall sheeting near the bridge, which is an interlocking steel panel that acts as a retaining wall. A retaining wall is a rigid wall that holds soil laterally. You can view the project map for details on the locations of these crews in the inactive MBTA corridor.
Approved construction work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, but crews will generally work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the next several weeks. Occasional work may extend beyond these hours based on approval from local officials.
As construction continues, the Sudbury Police Department may modify the traffic management plans based on their judgement and expertise. This includes street closures and traffic detours to ensure public safety.
Please use caution when approaching active work areas to minimize risks to personal safety and to avoid interfering with construction. Final restoration activities will occur when the project is complete.
Hudson
In the inactive MBTA rail corridor from Bridge 130 to Main Street, crews are excavating, installing duct bank, and backfilling trenches between multiple cable vaults (MH7 and MH8, MH8 and MH9) for the coming weeks. Cables vaults are sometimes also called manholes (MH). From Main Street to Parmenter Road, similar activities, including excavation, duct bank installation and backfilling trenches in the limits of work is happening between MH9 and MH10. Starting in early April on Forest Avenue, between Wheeler Road and Wilkins Street, construction crews will begin installing cable vaults and duct bank in the roadway. View the project map for additional details on the locations of work crews.
Approved construction work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, but crews are working from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Occasional work may extend beyond these hours based on approval from local officials.
Active construction will NOT occur on Forest Avenue until Spring 2023.. As construction continues, the Hudson Police Department may modify the traffic management plans based on their judgment and expertise. This includes street closures and traffic detours to ensure public safety.
Please exercise caution when approaching active work areas to minimize risks to personal safety and to avoid interfering with construction. Final restoration activities will occur when the project is complete.
Stow
There will be no work in Stow.
Marlborough
Week of 3/20/2023
There will be no work in Marlborough.
Siting and Environmental Notification Form Review
The EFSB Petition Filing is part of the siting regulatory review process for an electric transmission line project. On December 17, 2019, Eversource received approval from the EFSB to construct the Sudbury to Hudson Reliability Project. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld the decision on June 25, 2021.
The EFSB's docket is available for viewing in the organization’s file room. Eversource’s filing is docket number EFSB17-02.
On May 15, 2017, Eversource submitted an Environmental Notification Form (ENF) to the MEPA Office for review. On June 12, 2017, the MEPA Office held a public site tour and scoping session for the project.
On September 14, 2018, Eversource received the Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Sudbury - Hudson Transmission Reliability Project.
For more information on the MEPA process, please visit their website.
Community Outreach
We will maintain an active field outreach presence during construction in case members of the public have questions.
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.