Updated: Bumpy Humphrey Gets Smoothed After Town Stops Utility Work

The town's  director has put the brakes on National Grid's utility work on Humphrey Street until they level the street's bumpy temporary paving.

Meawhile, a National Grid spokeswoman says the utility is cooperating with the town.

National Grid agreed to stop its infrastructure work and put the road in the condition the town wants, said spokeswoman Charlotte McCormack.

The leveling got underway Monday and paving is expected to take place today, said Swampscott Public Works Director Gino Cresta.

The town shut down National Grid's installation of conduit for underground electrical lines more than a week ago, the director said.

The utility company still has a section of trench work for electrical lines between St. John's Church and the Lynn line, he said.

At their July 11, meeting Swampscott selectmen were highly critical of the temporary paving above the trench between St. John's Church and the Fish House area.

Board Chairman Rich Malagrifa said the surface was so uneven you practically needed a Jeep to travel it.

The Public Works director agreed.

"That trench was atrocious," he said.

The utility work started in spring. Crews have worked in sections, opening up a trench and filling the section at day's end and rolling asphalt over the top.

Permanent paving over the sections was planned for the spring of 2013.

But spring was too long to wait, considering the lumpy, bumpy condition of the road, local officials said.

The Public Works director said he is pleased that National Grid has responded to the local outcry but he will wait to see the results.

"Now I'm waiting to see what the finished product looks like," he said.

Looking ahead, the town administrator wants to put in place an inspection procedure for work such as the Humphrey underground conduit installation.