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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. 

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. 

We are working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to co-locate compatible uses within the existing, inactive MBTA corridor. We 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 our project is complete, DCR will pave the trail, install safe road crossings and complete final restoration of this publicly accessible shared-use path.

map-sudbury-to-hudson-dec-18-2019

* 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. 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: Fourth quarter 2022
  • Projected in-service date: First quarter 2025

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. This work will not interrupt your electrical service. 

We are aiming to place the transmission line in-service in the coming months, which will conclude our portion of the work in the corridor. Other restoration activities will be ongoing throughout the rest of 2024.

We will then turn over work in the inactive MBTA corridor to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) who will install the new shared use rail trail.

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No work will take place on Monday, October 14.

Sudbury

Week of October 14

  • Over the next few weeks, crews will continue to install plantings throughout the corridor in Sudbury. Installations will occur between Dutton Road and the Town line.
  • Between Station Road and Boston Post Road in the inactive MBTA corridor, crews will be working to upgrade a culvert. This work has been closely coordinated with the Town of Sudbury.
  • Between Dutton Road and Peakham Road in the inactive MBTA corridor, crews will be cleaning out culverts.
  • Between Landham Road and the Sudbury Substation, crews will be cleaning out culverts.
  • Starting in the coming weeks, crews will begin restoring a water line underground on Boston Post Road, between Maple Ave and Station Road. Work in this area is expected to last two weeks and will be followed by final road restoration. Once this activity is finished, crews will complete the final road restoration at other road crossings in Sudbury, including Union Ave, Horse Pond Rd., and Dutton Rd.

View the project map for details on the locations of these crews in the inactive MBTA corridor.

Approved work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. Occasional work may extend beyond the approved hours, due to unforeseen circumstances, based on approval from local officials.

As construction continues, the Sudbury 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 use caution when approaching active work areas to minimize risks to personal safety and to avoid interfering with construction. Final restoration activities will be ongoing for the next few months.

Hudson

Week of October 14

  • One crew will be working at Hudson Light and Power to excavate and install duct bank.
  • On Forest Ave, between MH1-2, one crew will be working to install the underground transmission cable by way of cable pulling and then splicing.
  • In the inactive MBTA corridor, crews are installing loam and seed that is part of the restoration effort.
  • Over the next few weeks, crews will be installing plantings in the corridor throughout Hudson. Installations will take place between Wilkins Street and the town line.
  • Final road restoration on Forest Avenue and Wilkins Street will occur in 2025.

View the project map for details on the locations of these crews in the inactive MBTA corridor.

Approved work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday but crews are working from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crews will be working in the Hudson roads, based on final approval from the town, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Occasional work may extend beyond the approved hours, due to unforeseen circumstances, based on approval from local officials.

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 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.

Stow

Week of October 14

There will be no work in Stow.

Marlborough

Week of October 14

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, we 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. Our filing is docket number EFSB17-02.

On May 15, 2017, we 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, we 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.