Paugussett Reroute at Eversource Towers

New trail route avoids powerline work set for 2023

Two work parties were held in November to move a section of Paugussett Trail away from some powerline towers that will be replaced in 2023.  The trail reroute is located off of Buddington Road due west of John Dominick Drive. Eversource plans to install three new monopole towers there in 2023 and then remove the two existing towers as part of their Pootatuck Rebuild Project (Shelton/Monroe). With the new route, trail closures will be kept to a minimum. 

The old route went under this tower

The old route went directly underneath one of the Eversource towers after following the utility access road diagonally across the powerline and gasline corridor. The advantage was the solid ground. But it could also be a bit confusing, especially after mountain bikers created rogue trails in the area. It's hard to blaze a trail through the open terrain, and our marking posts placed along the utility road went missing. 

The old trail route, looking south

The new route crosses the powerline corridor to the north at the base of a rocky ledge, heading through lots of mountain laurel. The replacement towers will be located a bit further back from the ledge. 

The new route is located at the bottom of this ledge
(looking north)

Footing for the new route isn't as good as the old route, since part of it is squeezed between a wetland and the rocky ledge.  It's hard to say how the tread will hold up in that type of terrain. But after the construction of the new towers is complete, we always have the option of returning to the previous route if this new one isn't working out. 

The new route picks its way between wetlands to the north
and the rocky ledge to the south