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Greater Cambridge Energy Project (GCEP)

Groundbreaking Ceremony

In January we broke ground on GCEP, an innovative transmission initiative designed to meet the growing energy demand driven by new residential and commercial development. 

The project features a first-of-its-kind, 35,000-square-foot underground substation located beneath a public green space and as part of a mixed-use development in the heart of Kendall Square.

Watch the entire ceremony

Why Are We Doing This Project?

The Greater Cambridge area is experiencing a surge of new residential and commercial development that, along with goals of reduction of fossil fuels in new buildings and electrification, is generating a growing demand for power.

This first-of-its-kind transmission initiative is innovatively designed to place a significant amount of needed infrastructure underground and out of sight, becoming the largest underground substation in the country at 35,000 square feet.

This project will address the increased electric demand in the region, enhance the resiliency of the transmission system and ensure a flexible grid to reliably serve customers while supporting the decarbonization and electrification goals of both the City of Cambridge and Massachusetts to lessen the impact of climate change.

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Where Is This Work Being Done?

The new underground substation will be located between Broadway and Binney Street in Kendall Square and will be integrated into a large mixed-use development project at the former Kendall Center Blue Garage site. 

This project will include five underground duct banks housing eight new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines. The transmission routes will span Boston (Allston/Brighton), Cambridge, and Somerville interconnecting to existing substations in these communities.

A partnership spearheaded by City of Cambridge officials, Eversource and BXP yielded this collaborative effort to uniquely locate the substation underground — a first of its kind in the country. Where there was once a parking garage above ground, there will be an open and accessible outdoor public community space.

EFSB approved routes:


Traffic management

Working in consultation with city officials, we are developing Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) for construction of the project. This information is posted in compliance with Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) approval, Condition G.

Final plans for specific project areas will be posted as they become available. All TMPs are subject to change and may be updated. All files are in PDF format. 

Linskey Way traffic reconfiguration plan.


When Is The Work Being Done?

  • File siting petition with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB): March 10, 2022 (Initial Petition, Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3)
  • EFSB public hearing: June 28, 2022, November 10, 2022
  • Final decision from the EFSB: June 28, 2024
  • Start of construction: January 28, 2025
  • Estimated in-service dates: Q1 2029*
  • Construction completed: 2031*

*Dates subject to change

Additional information can be found on the Siting Board's website and on our project fact sheet. 

    Construction Updates

    We're committed to keeping neighbors, businesses and community members informed on project activities during construction. Join our email list to receive regular updates like the ones below. 

    Cambridge

    Week of April 21

    There are no construction activities planned on Monday, April 21 in observance of Patriots' Day.

    Broadway

    • Installation of transmission line conduit within the new substation site, off the roadway at 121 Broadway.

    Third Street

    • Enablement work continues to accommodate a traffic shift on Third Street between Linskey Way and Potter Street.
    • This week, both north and southbound traffic, as well as cyclist traffic, will shift one lane to the west. Two lanes of travel will be maintained, and on-street metered parking will be restricted during this temporary configuration. This will allow for duct bank installation on the east side of the roadway. The traffic shift will remain in place for the summer.

    Linskey Way

    • Excavation activities including test pits, trench digging and manhole installation on Linskey Way between Third Street and Second Street.
    • Temporary sidewalk barriers north of the roadway will be maintained to safely secure the work zone in this area. A dewatering system has been placed in this area to support upcoming excavation activities.

    Ames Street

    • Crews will begin enabling and preparation activities on Ames Street to support upcoming vault and duct bank installation this summer.
    • Initially, crews will be making modifications to the west side curbline on Ames Street between Main Street and Memorial Drive.
    • This will include temporary changes to ramps and curbing as well as overhead lights.
    • Crews will be excavating to install sleeves to support and protect existing underground utilities.

    Upcoming activities

    • Excavation activities including trench digging on Second Street between Athenaeum Street and Linskey Way.
    • Excavation activities including test pitting and other associated preparation work on Third Street between Linskey Way and Broad Canal Way.
    • Excavation activities supporting the installation of two manholes on the Volpe parcel located at the corner of Broadway and Third Street, off the roadway.

    Work hours and traffic management

    • Approved construction hours in Cambridge are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
    • Occasional activities may be performed beyond these hours or on weekends based on approval from local officials.
    • Construction activities will generally be done utilizing lane restrictions or alternating lane traffic patterns. If detours are necessary, clear signage will be posted to direct motorists and cyclists. 
    • During daytime construction activities, Linskey Way will be one-way, allowing thru traffic from Third Street towards Second Street (west to east). 
    • Eastbound motorists will be detoured from Second Street, to Binney Street, to Third Street to reconnect with Linskey Way. This traffic pattern will continue regularly throughout the summer months.
    • Southbound traffic on Ames Street will be detoured to Wadsworth Street. Ames Street will remain open to northbound traffic. The detour will be in place during daytime work hours.
    • Refer to the traffic management section to see traffic reconfiguration plans.

    Community Outreach

    We're committed to continuing our collaborative working partnership with each local community, municipal leaders and other interested stakeholders.

    Our public outreach efforts began in 2019 and we held our first public open house in 2021. We will continue to engage and solicit feedback from a diverse cross-section of neighborhoods that the project will traverse.

    City officials, residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders will be kept informed about project happenings and activities through municipal briefings, mailings, virtual meetings, in-person meetings, constant contact and door-to-door outreach. 

    Past outreach efforts

    All files are in PDF format unless otherwise noted.

    Information Available in Additional Languages

    Español (Spanish)

    Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole)

    Português (Portuguese)

     

    中文（普通话）(Chinese Mandarin)

     

    Have Questions?

    Keeping the lines of communication open is an important part of our work in your community.

    For more information about this project, please call the project information hotline at 1-833-836-0302 or email ProjectInfoMA@eversource.com.