Access & Improvements for a 5-Mile Electrical Transmission Line
Eversource Energy rebuilt a 5-mile portion of a 115-kV electric transmission line, replacing structures and conductor wire. Our firm provided services in the design and permitting phase of the project including the delineation and mapping of wetlands, watercourses, and vernal pools. The firm prepared GIS mapping for including the field delineated environmental resources and the proposed locations of structure replacements and project access.
This mapping was used to obtain project approvals from the Connecticut Siting Council. We prepared permit documents the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Connecticut General Permit and with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) for the Construction Stormwater General Permit.
In one area of the project, Eversource Energy needed to construct a new access road with an entrance driveway on State Route 57 in the Town of Weston. The access roadway traversed a steep roadway embankment slope that was supporting Route 57 and avoiding impacts to the drainage system and an unnamed stream tributary that flowed underneath and into a wetland area within the utility right-of-way.
Our design developed a roadway plan that accommodated the required utility construction vehicles and met the design requirements stipulated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). We also developed design documents, participated in field meetings with CTDOT to review the design approach and issues in the field, and facilitated the design approval process.
Services Snapshot
Tighe & Bond’s services included providing field monitoring for the Stormwater Pollution Control Plan, wildlife avoidance, and compliance with the CTDOT permit during project construction. Tighe & Bond also oversaw the restoration of the project area and supported Eversource’s outreach by addressing concerns from landowners at a parcel in the project right-of-way.
