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Martha's Vineyard Reliability and 91 Cable Replacement Projects
Português Brasileiro (PDF)
Why Are We Doing These Projects?
Both of these new lines will interconnect to existing substations in the area and will bolster system capacity and reliability on Martha's Vineyard to meet growing energy needs.
These projects will also help facilitate our efforts to decrease our carbon footprint by decommissioning the five existing diesel generators on the Island.
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Where Is This Work Being Done?
Both projects will go through Falmouth and will come onshore to Martha's Vineyard in Oak Bluffs and Tisbury.
The work will be done in Falmouth and Martha's Vineyard (Tisbury and Oak Bluffs).
Martha's Vineyard Reliability Project
The proposed project will include the installation of a new 2.7 mile underground manhole (precast concrete vault) and duct bank system (a series of conduits that house electric cables).
The proposed route runs from the existing Falmouth Station on Stephens Lane to Jones Road, onto the Shining Sea Bikeway, down Mill Road to Surf Drive before transitioning in the Surf Drive parking lot to a submarine cable to cross Vineyard Sound.
The line will then travel 6.1 miles buried in the sea floor of Vineyard Sound before landing at East Chop, on Eastville Avenue where it will transition to onshore cables.
Once onshore, the line follows a new duct bank and manhole system along Eastville Avenue to an Eversource parcel.
The project will also include upgrades to the Falmouth Substation to support the installation of the new line and the installation of six pad-mounted transformers at the Eastville parcel to facilitate distribution of the new electric line feeding the Island.
91 Cable Replacement Project
The proposed project will follow the same duct bank and manhole system as the Martha’s Vineyard Reliability Project but will terminate at the Mill Road parking lot before transitioning to a 5.5 mile submarine cable to cross the Vineyard Sound and land at Eversource facilities in West Chop.
When is the Work Being Done?
- Public open houses: Spring 2022
- File environmental notification form for review under the Massachusetts Environmental
- Policy Act (MEPA): May 2022
- Start of construction: December 2023
- Estimated in-service date: March 2026
About These Projects
Martha's Vineyard Reliability Project
- Falmouth: approx. 2.7 miles
- Vineyard Sound: approx. 6.1 miles
- Oak Bluffs: approx. 0.3 miles
- Line voltage: 23kV
91 Cable Replacement Project
- Falmouth: approx. 2.7 miles
- Vineyard Sound: approx. 5.5 miles
- Line voltage: 23 kV
Construction Updates
We are committed to keeping neighbors, businesses and community members informed on project activities during construction. The schedule may change due to weather or other unexpected circumstances.
Week of April 28
Martha’s Vineyard
Next week, construction will continue in Oak Bluffs and Tisbury.
In Oak Bluffs:
- Crews will continue to work at the Eversource-owned parcel on Eastville Avenue. Please be aware of trucks entering and exiting the property.
- Crews will continue restoring the construction zone at the 5th cable landing site.
- Crews will pave Eastville Ave between the 5th cable landing site and the Eversource parcel.
- Crews will install new distribution poles along Temahigan Ave, New York Ave, Dukes County Ave, and Wing Road. Police detail officers will manage traffic. Please plan for possible delays.
In Tisbury, crews will install a manhole, or underground vault, on shore at the 91-cable landing site.
Approved work hours for activities in Martha's Vineyard are Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday to Saturday.
Falmouth
Next week, crews will continue pulling cable through previously installed conduit, or duct bank, at manholes located along the project route. Crews will continue restoration of the Shining Sea Bikeway between Ter Heun Drive and Locust Street. Work along the path is anticipated to be completed by spring of 2025.
The Depot Ave parking lot at 81 Depot Ave, Falmouth, is closed for the duration of this work. The Locust Street parking lot will remain open.
On Surf Drive, crews will continue to restore the Mill Road parking lot, located at Mill Road and Surf Drive, and the Surf Drive parking lot, located at Surf Drive and Shore Street.
Suggested detour route for bike path users during the closure:
Community Outreach
We're committed to partnering with all community members, municipal leaders and other interested stakeholders to provide more information on the projects, gather feedback and answer any questions or concerns.
Public open houses were held both in-person and virtually in each host community in the spring of 2022.
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.