BERLIN, Conn., April 4, 2012 – As mild spring weather stirs interest in outdoor recreation activities, Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) is notifying hikers and bicyclists of changes at trailheads on two popular trails in East Granby, Conn. The temporary changes are being made to ensure the safe passage of people hiking or biking on a transmission right-of-way undergoing an important upgrade.
The transmission upgrade is taking place on an existing 39-mile right-of-way that traverses the Metacomet Trail and the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, both in East Granby, Conn. Throughout April and May, crews will be clearing vegetation from the right-of-way, installing access roads and crane pads to provide safe work areas for construction crews. Signage will direct people who are on the trails.
The Metacomet trailhead located on Hatchet Hill Road will be temporarily closed to accommodate the April 6, 2012, start of vegetation removal work. A detour will be marked with blue squares painted on trees, directing hikers around the site. Weather permitting, the trail is scheduled to be re-opened after April 16, 2012, when the vegetation removal phase of work is completed.
A work site adjacent to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, at the Turkey Hills Road (Rt. 20) crossing, will be equipped with gates to slow the flow of bike and pedestrian traffic because of construction vehicle traffic crossing at the trail. Construction vehicles will be controlled by flaggers, who will stop the vehicles to allow bikers and hikers to safely pass through the area.
CL&P has coordinated these safety measures with the Farmington Valley Trails Council and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association.
The $718 million transmission upgrade is part of CL&P’s Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP), which is designed 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.
For additional information on GSRP, please visit www.NEEWSprojects.com, or call 1-866-99NEEWS (1-866-996-3397).