Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) recently broke ground on a 2.5-mi transmission line project between Agawam and West Springfield, Massachusetts. Once complete, this project will improve reliability of electric service to customers while strengthening the transmission connections for cities and towns in the area.
“This upgrade will help reinforce the Springfield area’s transmission system and ensure its compliance with federally mandated reliability standards. The project strengthens the transmission connections that feed our distribution system and we’re pleased to be moving forward,” said Peter Clarke, President and Chief Operating Officer of WMECo.
The upgrade will include rebuilding two 115-kilovolt (kV) circuits along an existing transmission right-of-way (ROW) between substations in Agawam and West Springfield. About one-half mile of the ROW is located in West Springfield, with the remaining two miles in Agawam.
Both 115-kV circuits, which are now located on a single row of structures, will be separated and relocated on two rows of parallel structures. Separation improves reliability and reduces the potential for any single incident to affect both circuits. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2011.
Construction activities for the project include site preparation, foundation installation, structure placement and conductor installation.
For more information about this project, please visit http://www.agawamwestspringfield.com/.
