10/16/20 UPDATE: Power was restored in the South Natick neighborhood in the wee hours of Friday. Naturally we had just done a huge grocery shop that day and so had a fridge and freezer full of perishables. We kept the doors shut tight during the outage and the ice cream stayed solid. Phew.

The stay-at-home crowd in South Natick got a rude awakening Thursday afternoon when a car slammed into a utility pole on Rte. 16 near South Lincoln St., and wiped out power across the neighborhood.

The crash into one pole resulted in a second one being yanked down as well. Power is out because a transformer on the second pole was knocked off during the incident.

The accident had ripple effects across town, as traffic backed up and was rerouted on major roads including Rte. 16, Pond Road and Union Street. One neighbor came scooting down to check out the scene on a golf cart.

Eversource is on the job, and they were talking of restoring power tonight, though it’s unclear how soon it will really be back. One neighbor was scrambling out to buy a generator. Here’s hoping they won’t need it.

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For the first time in at least four years, no Natick drivers have won a low plate vehicle license plate number in the state’s annual lottery. A true low point.

Typically, at least one or two Natick residents secure these random low numbers in the name of prestige, tradition, or something.

About 12,000 applications were received for a chance to win one of 100 plate numbers, such as 6P, 751, V35, K5, 2042 and T31. The lottery was even live streamed for the truly hard up for entertainment.

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The MBTA will hold a public meeting via Zoom on the Bacon Street Bridge Replacement project on Wed., June 3, 6pm – 7:30p. The meeting will include updates on the bridge project’s design and construction. Interested residents are invited to join the online meeting and give feedback.

Details on how to join and participate in the meeting are available on the MBTA events page.

The existing bridge, built in 1911 and located on the Natick/Wellesley line, is being replaced as a part of the MBTA’s reliability and modernization program.

Those who travel Rte. 135 have certainly noticed that state contractors have dramatically changed the visuals in the area by removing dozens of mature trees along with shrubs and other vegetation. In December 2019, pine trees were felled and stacked up along the side of the road like Christmas trees. After they were put through the wood chipper, the scent of pine lingered in the air for a week.

According to the MBTA, the main reason for removing trees and vegetation for this project is safety. Vegetation can hide train defects from inspectors and lead to equipment breakage, fire potential, and a loss of support when vegetation gets up under tracks and pushes it aside. It can also interfere with engineer visibility,

All preparation work for the Bacon Street Bridge Project took place within the railroad right-of-way.

The Bacon Street Bridge carries commuter rail service for the Framingham/Worcester Line over Bacon Street in Wellesley, between Natick Center and Wellesley Square near Morses Pond.

The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2022.

For questions or to report concerns, email the MBTA or call the 24-hour hotline at 617-571-7878.

MORE:

Why the MBTA cut down hundreds of trees along the commuter rail

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