Imagine walking down a bustling city street when suddenly, smoke and heat start billowing out of manholes. That's exactly what happened on Newbury Street in Boston, leaving residents and businesses shaken. But here's where it gets controversial: Was it an explosion, or just an electrical failure? Eversource, the local utility company, insists it was the latter, but the debate rages on.
On a chilly Tuesday night, an underground electrical cable failure caused chaos on Newbury Street. The incident, which originated in a single manhole near the intersection of Dartmouth and Newbury streets, led to smoke and intense heat venting through several connected manholes. This prompted the evacuation of multiple buildings after carbon monoxide, a dangerous byproduct of electrical fires, was detected. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, and residents were later allowed to return home.
And this is the part most people miss: The cable in question was made of copper, encased in a neoprene jacket—a material designed to withstand water and extreme temperatures. So, what went wrong? Doug Foley, president of Massachusetts electrical operations for Eversource, explained that the failure was due to an electrical short, which created a fire. Crews worked swiftly to replace the damaged cable, and power was restored to the 14 affected customers, some through generator power.
Foley clarified that the incident was not an explosion but rather an electrical fault. He noted that the loud sounds reported by witnesses were likely the result of electricity discharging to the ground, a common occurrence in such failures. However, fire officials described the event as involving 'explosions' across six manholes, sparking a debate over terminology and the severity of the incident.
This event highlights the unique challenges of maintaining Boston's aging underground electrical network. Much of the infrastructure predates modern utilities, and while underground cables are designed to operate in harsh conditions, they are susceptible to corrosion and wear. Foley pointed out that winter weather, particularly snowmelt and road salt seeping into manholes, can create a corrosive environment that degrades cable connections over time. Additionally, the repeated expansion and contraction of cables due to temperature changes can lead to scuffing and eventual failure.
These issues have contributed to a series of manhole incidents in Boston over the past decade, some of which have launched manhole covers into the air, causing injuries and property damage. In response, Eversource developed 'energy-release' manhole covers designed to vent pressure safely while remaining secured. Foley stated that the cover at the Newbury Street manhole stayed in place during the incident, and the company has installed these covers at 99% of locations in and around Boston, with no reports of displacement since the program began.
Eversource operates approximately 45,000 manholes across Massachusetts, with 33,000 in Eastern Massachusetts. The company has upgraded more than 60% of these locations, prioritizing dense urban areas like Boston and Cambridge. While these measures aim to prevent future incidents, the question remains: Are we doing enough to safeguard our cities from such failures?
What do you think? Is Eversource's response adequate, or should more be done to prevent similar incidents? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s spark a conversation about the future of urban infrastructure.
