NH firms taking part in $129m transmission line construction

Work on Eversource-National Grid project to begin this fall

A number of New Hampshire-based companies have been selected by Eversource to begin the first phase of constructing the Merrimack Valley Reliability Project transmission line.

The project, which begins this fall, involves construction of a new overhead line to be built in existing rights-of-way between Londonderry, NH, and Tewksbury, Mass. The NH Site Evaluation Committee issued a Certificate of Approval for the project on Oct. 4.

The $129 million project is run jointly by Eversource and National Grid. It is estimated that during peak construction the project will create more than 1,000 local jobs in both states.

Work beginning this year by Eversource includes preparation of the existing power line right-of-way for construction. This will include workers from Triple L Trucking and Greymont Trucking of Henniker, as well as M&R Wood Recycling of Derry. A.B. Excavating of Lancaster will also be involved in the initial phase of the project.

Eversource said project construction in 2017 will include many local workers. Michels Corp., the Wisconsin-based utility contractor that is building the power line, will be employing lineworkers from IBEW Local 104 and a core group of New Hampshire-based management and companies, including: U.S. Silt & Site Supply, Bow; Redimix Companies Inc., Manchester; New England Mat Company, Winchester; and Busby Construction, Atkinson.

In addition, the utility said, Maine-based E.S. Boulos Company, which will be responsible for substation construction, will employ lineworkers, electricians and laborers from New Hampshire Local Unions 104, 490 and 976. The company also anticipates utilizing New Hampshire based crane services, suppliers and material distributors.