Western Massachusetts Begins Work on Switching Station Upgrade

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) has begun work on the new Cadwell Switching Station in Springfield and upgrades at the existing Agawam Substation in Massachusetts, US.

The $795m Greater Springfield Reliability Project aims to strengthen the region's power grid, meet mandatory reliability standards, and allow power to move more freely around the greater Springfield and north-central Connecticut area.

The project includes work along 39 miles of an existing transmission right-of-way between Ludlow, Massachusetts, and Bloomfield, Connecticut.

The 27-mile portion in Massachusetts includes new 345KV transmission lines, new and reconstructed 115KV lines, two new switching stations and several substation upgrades.

Construction of the overhead transmission line in Massachusetts and Connecticut is expected to begin in early and later parts of 2011 respectively and come onstream by 2013.