Humphrey Street Utility Work Underway

Utility work on Humphrey Street will result in more congestion but the plan is to maintain two-lanes open whenever possible, according to National Grid.

The project got underway Monday, with crews laying out locations for construction, said Swampscott DPW Director Gino Cresta.

The actual cutting into the ground isn't expected until next week, at which point travelers can expect additional congestion on Humphrey, the DPW director said.

National Grid said earlier that they expect it to be a six-month project. The main work was expected to wind up in the fall but crews were to return in the spring of 2013 for some finish paving, a National Grid spokesman said earlier. 

The project calls for installing about three-quarters of a mile of underground conduit to carry electrical lines along Humphrey Street.

The underground lines will increase capacity and reduce the number of outages, National Grid spokesman John Upham said earlier.

The utility has had problems with outages in that area, he said.

The Humphrey lines will extend from the intersection with Cedar Terrace — near Fisherman's Beach — to the Swampscott/Lynn line.

The work will start at the Cedar Terrace end and head toward Lynn, he said.

Crews will work in sections, opening up a four-four wide trench anywhere from 20 to 60 feet long. At the day's end they will fill the section, a National Grid spokesman said.

The work day starts at 7 am and ends at 5 pm.

Police will work traffic details.

Upham said there will be additional congestion on Humphrey but access to businesses and residences will remain open.