Residents urge better notice and signposting as Eversource undergrounding work disrupts town roads

Eversource staff briefed the Select Board on a multi‑year substation and undergrounding project required to accommodate distributed energy interconnections, but most of the public comment focused on traffic disruption, safety and poor communications.

Anthony Blue, Eversource community relations for southeastern Massachusetts, said the upgrades are driven by the need to interconnect multiple solar projects and by a Department of Public Utilities timetable. "We have to do the work," he told the board, adding Eversource is not satisfied with the quality of some recent construction coordination and will take steps to improve communications with town staff and the police.

Residents, business owners and on‑duty police officers gave examples of lane closures that began without adequate advance notice, signage left in place on non‑work days, late‑day closures that conflicted with summer events and unsafe equipment staging. Police and a harbor master representative flagged specific safety concerns including misplaced erosion control materials; the town asked that removable electronic signs and two‑week look‑ahead schedules be provided so residents and commercial traffic can plan alternate routes.

Eversource acknowledged shortcomings. The company said it would prioritize finishing manholes by the boat ramp before the July 4 weekend, improve message‑board accuracy, share a two‑week schedule with the town for social posting and coordinate more closely with police for daily operations. Select Board members said they expect firm follow‑through and that continued failures will result in stronger town actions.

What happens next: Eversource agreed to provide a short rolling schedule and to address the manholes. The police department will continue on‑the‑ground coordination and report issues to the company liaison if contractors do not comply.

No town vote was required; staff will monitor Eversource’s follow‑up commitments and escalate if problems persist.