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UPDATE: An electrical fire on a National Grid pole along Interstate 495 in Westford, left 39 customers without power and shut down both the north- and southbound lanes near exit 35, today, June 19.
National Grid Spokesman Christine Milligan said the fire, likely sparked by a thunderstorm on June 18, caused the cross arm on a telephone pole to break. That cross arm served to hold up a high voltage wire that consequently sagged over the highway.
“We consider all downed wires to be live and dangerous. It’s a big safety issued,” said Milligan.
But by 2:25 p.m. after at least two hours of redirecting traffic to Route 3, state police were expected to re-open all but the northbound right lane to traffic, said Milligan.
The delay was caused by the need to get digger derricks and bucket trucks to the scene, she added.
Power had been restored to all 39 business customers by mid afternoon. Those affected were in the vicinity of the Boston Road exit, Millligan said.
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UPDATE: Massachusetts State Police are now saying both lanes of Interstate 495 in Westford may not open until 2 p.m. today, June 19.
The highway was shut down by state police officers after a National Grid transformer exploded causing high voltage wires to hang over the highway.
State Police Lt. Tom Ryan said the road was closed “due to a potentially dangerous situation,” as troopers checked to see “whether the transformer compromised the integrity of a telephone pole.”
“Our job is to keep the highway safe,” he said.
Spokesmen for National Grid did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
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The southbound and northbound lanes of Interstate 495 in Westford will remain closed today, June 19, until around 1:20 p.m., according to published reports. A transformer has blown causing high voltage wires to hang over the highway.
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