Construction begins in West Roxbury on gas pipeline

Matthew M. Robare and Julie M. Cohen jcohen@WickedLocal.com
Construction work began on Tuesday, Sept. 29, in West Roxbury on Spectra Energy's West Roxbury Lateral gas pipeline. A machine could be seen digging up part of Washington Street near the Dedham town line. Wicked Local staff photo/Julie M. Cohen

During intermittent rain, construction began in West Roxbury Tuesday on Spectra Energy’s gas pipeline after months of protests, rallies and court wrangling.

Men in hard hats stood near a construction vehicle as it dug up part of Washington Street at the Dedham town line. Police also stood nearby to direct increasingly congested traffic traveling down the narrowed road.

The work, which will head toward Grove and Centre streets, is slated to take place Monday through Saturday each week, Spectra spokeswoman Marylee Hanley Tuesday. She added that construction on the West Roxbury Lateral gas pipeline will continue until the effective date for the winter moratorium for street work.

Digging began just two days after a large rally Sunday where at least 200 people gathered on West Roxbury’s Billings Field to protest the high pressure natural gas pipeline that recently received a green light to move forward.

On Sept. 10 the federal court judge said Spectra had the authority to proceed to take easements in West Roxbury by eminent domain to build the pipeline. The 5-mile section is part of the larger Algonquin Incremental Market [AIM] that would run under portions of West Roxbury, Dedham, and Westwood.

After a long fight, last week Mayor Martin Walsh decided, on advice of counsel, the city would not appeal the decision.

"Since the moment the FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] decision was issued, my administration has remained committed to advancing the concerns of the residents of West Roxbury and fighting for an efficient and transparent review of the permitting that was approved by a federal agency affecting the streets of Boston," said the mayor in a statement on Tuesday. "We pursued litigation because it was the final option the city had on the table, and while we are disappointed with the outcome we do not believe an appeal is the best option to move forward. We will continue to work closely with the residents of West Roxbury and our local, state and federal partners to ensure that the community is involved in any actions taken by Spectra."

“This is an incredibly reckless, dangerous idea,” West Roxbury City Councilor Matt O’Malley said of the pipeline. “It was a tough blow we were dealt by the courts.”

While most of the people at Sunday’s rally were from West Roxbury, Dedham, Roslindale or Jamaica Plain, a few came from further afield.

“We understand what they’re going through,” said Gwen Whitbeck, who came down from Mason, NH. “We have a pipeline going through our town, too. They’re all wrong.”

“We have to put up the resources to keep people safe in West Roxbury,” said Karen Webber of the Stop the West Roxbury Lateral (SWRL) steering committee.

Protest organizers set up a sound system at home plate on a baseball diamond and Peter Malagodi led them in pipeline specific renditions of Gospel music protest songs.

“I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to see so many expressing their opposition to this very bad idea,” said Nancy Wilson of SWRL.

“I’ve been looking forward to this rally,” O’Malley said. “It was on my schedule even before the foolish court decision. Today (Sunday) marks the end of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States ... he has been a transformational leader on climate change. We need to move away from fossil fuels.”

O’Malley said he did not know what other options there were to block the pipeline, but he intended to exhaust all of them.

“The silver lining of this dark cloud is all of you,” he said. “What you have done has been nothing short of spectacular.”

“Who in their right minds would think [having the pipeline so close to the West Roxbury Crushed Stone quarry] was a good idea?” said state Rep. Ed Coppinger. “We’re going to continue to fight.”

Coppinger, who was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Tom Brady and the caption “Free at last,” at the rally, could not be reached Tuesday for comment on any next steps he might consider.

“Tom Brady is finally free,” he said. “Now we need to make sure West Roxbury is free at last.”

“We’ve heard that saying before, that crisis leads to opportunity and the opportunity we have here is to come together,” said Councilor-at-Large Ayanna Pressley.

“We invited the mayor of Boston here today and we don’t see him,” said Seamus Whalen of SWRL. “He chose not to appeal. Call the mayor’s office and ask him to reverse his decision.”

Whalen is a member of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and was able to secure their support for the efforts to oppose the pipeline. They printed many of the signs and T-shirts, he said.

City Councilor Tim McCarthy said that the pipeline worried him because his sons go to Catholic Memorial, right near the route of the pipeline.

“Clearly, the public safety issues are severe,” said Councilor-at-Large Michael Flaherty.

“Climate change is the most urgent issue in my son’s generation,” said Councilor-at-Large Michelle Wu.

She said her mother lives on Keystone Street in West Roxbury, near the pipeline route, and that she now gets goosebumps every time she visits her.