Power lines, traffic affected after car hits Social Street utility pole

WOONSOCKET – A single-car crash on Social Street early Thursday morning resulted in a two-day long travel backup on the main city thoroughfare as NationalGrid crews worked in freezing temperatures to repair affected utility lines.

Police reported the driver of the motor vehicle striking the utility pole in front of RiteAid on Social Street at about 3 a.m. Thursday morning was not seriously injured in the crash.

The pole struck in the accident, it turns out, was the wrong pole to damage in terms of quick repairs, police added.

Not only carrying major power services up Social Street, the pole is also where those services enter an underground conduit at Pond Street and then continue down Veterans Way past the Police Station to Clinton Street, according to Detective Sgt. George McMann.

Police details were stationed on Social Street blocking the road to traffic from Mayor John Cummings Way to Pond Street all day Thursday as the damaged underground components of the utility pole were dug up and replaced by National Grid. That work affected some businesses along Social Street as well as this week’s Adopt-a-Family pick-ups at the Elks Club Hall at 380 Social St.

Work at the site continued on Friday as NationalGrid moved above ground power lines from the damaged pole to a newly installed one, traffic was allowed along a single lane through the work area, according to McMann. Pond Street, near the accident location, remained closed a second day.

The work was expected to finish up Friday night allowing Social to reopen completely to traffic, police said.

Photo by Ernest A. Brown National Grid workers were on the job for the second consecutive day doing extensive repairs to the electrical lines along Social Street in Woonsocket Friday morning. The street has been closed for two days while service poles are replaced.