A look at National Grid’s Upstate Upgrade

TOWN OF PAMELIA, New York (WWNY) — If you drive on Route 37 out of Watertown, you’ve seen the project. The Upstate Upgrade includes more than 80 new transmission towers cutting a path from Watertown to Evans Mills.

National Grid crews are working dozens of feet up in the air, installing new transmission poles and using drones to string power cables from pole to pole. It’s an upgrade meant to make the power grid more resilient.

“Something trips on that line going towards Route 12, we can lose the entirety of the Thousand Islands,” said Jared Paventi, National Grid spokesperson.

We’ve seen it. Harsh weather that knocks out the power. The construction of this new line aims to keep that power on for more than 30,000 customers.

“This line cuts across, provides a level of redundancy, increases reliability. Customers will notice it in the reduction of outages based on where it happens and in the wait time to get that energy restored,” said Paventi.

The new line will run 9 and a half miles, connecting the power company’s Indian River substation to a new and improved Watertown substation near the Salmon Run Mall.

The enhancements are said to support economic growth and give National Grid the ability to bring on new clean energy projects.

Project supervisor Tim Mattison says it’s the largest project of its kind that National Grid has done in decades.

“It’s a good feeling that you’re able to give back to the community and be part of this build. All of our linemen here are from Oswego, Jefferson, St. Lawrence County. It’s nice that they can be working in this area and give back to the community,” he said.

About 20 transmission towers still need to go up. Drones will string the wires. Work still has to be done at that Watertown substation.

Mattison expects construction to be complete by sometime next February.

“So I think we’re about halfway done. Maybe a bit less, but things are going well,” he said.

To build the line, National Grid worked with landowners to get easements for the new corridor. The energy company picked this route because it keeps the line away from heavily populated areas.

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