August
15,
2007
By Bill Cooksey/The Lynn Journal
It would take two and a half years to complete,
but, National Grid, in a study issued to the mayor's office,
says the feasibility of relocating the power lines off
the Lynn Harbor waterfront can come to fruition with time
and money.
The three section, four page report, issued
in July, sought to ease the minds of those in city hall as
to problems that would be encountered with such a move.
The city is looking to move the lines to move forward with
a major waterfront development project.
The New England Power Company's transmission
lines off the Lynn Harbor waterfront between the General
Edwards Bridge and the Water and Sewer Treatment facility
would be moved "to a point westerly on the Lynnway near the
bridge and GE property," the report says.
The lines would then snake along, northerly,
along land owned by GE to the gatehouse. From there they
would turn easterly across the Lynnway and onto Harding Street,
across to Garelick Farms and the Water Sewer plant.
All together, the lines would run about a
mile.
The report shoots down an idea by the city
to use doule-circuit transmission mission structures, which,
National Grid contests would cause an increase in disrupted
service to the city.
Instead the report makes it clear that the
narrow width makes using a single pole, double circuit steel
structure supported on concrete piers a more reasonable option.
The report says the current U.S. reliability
standards are being revised, and if the city wants to proceed
with a double circuit design, along with the reliability
reduction, it needs to do so. "They (the city) need to move
forward expeditiously to try to complete the project under
the existing standards," the report warned.
When the project meets final approval the
time line could take up to two and a half years, according
to the study. The engineering aspect would cost 4 months,
licensing 12 months, acquisition of materials about 8 moths
and actual construction would take about 6 months.
That is, however if everything goes as planned.
The study gets into actual dollar amounts
that it will cost the city to complete such a mammoth project.
Excluding land rights, the estimated project could top $4.5
million. And that is based on current market prices. Earlier
estimates had the project ringing the register at a significantly
cheaper amount. However because of the increasing cost of
materials the figure has gone up.
"These increases are believed due largely
to escalating competition for relatively scarce resources
as utilities in the Northeast and around the country increase
investment in transmission networks," the study explained.
SECTION 3 OF THE LYNN HARBOR LINE RELOCATION
STUDY
Project Narrative
1. The typical structure on this line will
be a single steel pole double circuit structure carrying
in height from 90 to 100 feet above the ground. Structures
will be spaced 400 to 600 feet apart.
2. The 115kv line relocations will start
under the existing lines just west of the Lynnway, at the
northern end of the General Edwards Bridge, on land owned
by the New England Power Company. At the location two 3 pole
structures will be set. Each pole would be approximately
75 feet in height.
3. From this point, the line will proceed
to a single steel pole structure approximately 95 feet tall;
set on GE property, behind the car lot owned now or formerly
by Donald Algeni. In addition to the land rights that will
be required from GE, rights will also be required for use
of the back lot of Algeni property.
4. The line proceeds along the GE access
road, supported on typical steel pole structure, to a turning
pole near the GE gatehouse.
5. The line now crosses the Pride Chevrolet
car lot (which is leased through a GE subsidiary) and the
DCR Lynnway to a poll set on the traffic island at Lynnway
and Harding Street.
6. It continues easterly along the southerly
side of Harding Street and through the Lynn Impound lot,
adjacent to land occupied by Kentucky Fried Chicken and the
Lynn Auto Auction.
7. From this turning pole at the end of the
Impound Lot, which will be set off the lower part of the
access road at the fence/property line.
8. The lines then rejoin existing lines on
Massachusetts Electric Company land.
9. The total length of the relocation is
approximately 1.05 miles. |
