Published in the September 19, 2018 edition

By MARK SARDELLA

WAKEFIELD — National Grid will soon begin work on the unused portion of the MBTA’s right-of-way between Bennett Street and Salem Street in preparation for that portion of the underground electric transmission line that will run through 3.5 miles of Wakefield.

It is part of a larger 8.5-mile National Grid/Eversource line that will run from Woburn through Winchester, Stoneham and Wakefield.

National Grid contractors plan to begin preliminary site preparation work on this section of right-of-way (ROW) in late-September or early-October.

According to National Grid, this work will include the following activities:

• Selective tree removal and pruning of the MBTA ROW to minimize visual impact.

• Test pit work to confirm subsurface conditions.

• Removal of abandoned appliances and machinery, stacks of rails and ties, piles of asphalt and general debris discarded over the years.

• Removal of unused rail and ties.

• Installation of Jersey barriers at access created due to clearing to limit future dumping along the right-of-way.

Residents who have any questions about the upcoming work, are encouraged to contact a member of the National Grid outreach team at a dedicated project hotline (844-646-8427) or via email at info@ma-nhsolution.com.

On Feb. 28, 2018, the Massachusetts Energy facilities Siting Board (EFSB) issued its final approval for the joint National Grid/Eversource Woburn to Wakefield underground transmission line. The line will run from the Eversource Substation in Woburn, through Winchester and Stoneham before entering Wakefield.

In Wakefield, the 3.5-mile route will come down Albion Street and Broadway, cross North Avenue and then follow the abandoned railroad bed for approximately one mile, running across Bennett Street, Richardson Street and Water Street. The line would continue along the railroad bed before turning down Salem Street to Montrose Avenue and up the access road to the National Grid Substation.

In its 160-page decision, the Siting Board found that “additional energy resources are needed to maintain a reliable supply of electricity within the Greater Boston Area.” The Siting Board further found that the proposed project “is superior to the other alternatives identified with respect to providing a reliable energy supply for the Commonwealth with minimum impact on the environment at the lowest possible cost.”

The towns of Stoneham and Winchester currently have appeals of the EFSB decision pending at the Supreme Judicial Court.