Lynnway traffic detours planned for next month

LYNN – Traffic along the Lynnway will be briefly detoured on the weekend of Aug. 7-8 to allow work crews to string electrical transmission wires over the busy roadway.The National Grid project is part of the city’s waterfront development master plan, which keys on relocating the power lines to the west side of the Lynnway. New transmission towers are already in place from the Gen. Edwards Bridge to Harding Street, where the wires will recross the Lynnway and link to an electrical substation.According to R. Andrew Schneller, the National Grid project manager, the work will be done during daylight and consist of installing eight conductors over Route 1A.”In order to install the conductors over the Lynnway, traffic will have to be stopped in all directions a total of two times for approximately 15 minutes each time, in order to install pulling rope on the poles,” he said. “All traffic stoppage will be directed by the Massachusetts State Police.”Schneller emphasized that the work is weather dependent. “In the event of adverse weather, we will attempt to reschedule this work for the following weekend,” he said.Once the new lines are strung, additional detours will be required to remove the existing lines, he said. That schedule has not been finalized. Motorists will receive similar notification of detours, he said.Lynn Community Development Director James Marsh said all work related to the power line relocation is scheduled to be completed by late August. “After this work, the old wooden structures along our waterfront will be removed and the engineering, site restoration, and permitting closeout will commence, with a final project end date in early October,” he said Tuesday. “As of today, all foundation work for the poles is complete and all new poles are installed.