By Andrea Gregory

It’s nightfall and Somerville Avenue construction crews have called it a day. There is no police detail directing traffic, but cars still need to make their way around the work in progress – a $20.7 million redo of one of Somerville’s busiest streets.

City and state officials have concerns about the after-dark construction area. The main concern is just how dark it is.

This week, city officials drafted a complaint to NStar. The letter expressed the concern for resident safety due to unsatisfactory lighting conditions that the city believes should have been taken care of months ago.

“It is absolutely unsafe. There is no question in my mind we need additional lighting,” said Public Works Commissioner Stan Koty. “It’s NStar’s responsibility to light the square (Union Square). I don’t know what the answer is. I know we need to do something.”

Public Works Commissioner Stan Koty said he feels disgruntled with the relationship the city has with NStar when it comes to the Somerville Avenue reconstruction project. He said since the reconstruction project is a state project, the city is hoping its voice will lead the electric company taking necessary action and increased communication with both state and city officials.

Koty said the problem with light in the area has been building for several months. He said NStar removed lights but the poles have remained up, blocking the plan to redirect traffic flows and perform new phases of the project. Also a problem is the floodlights, illuminating the area past work hours. Koty said these lights are about 45 degrees off the mark. He said NStar was supposed to reposition them, but has failed to do so. As it stands, the area has less than ideal lighting. Koty said it is a problem that has gone on to long, and since that time “it became a nightmare,” he said. “We also believe it is becoming a public safety issue.”

Koty said NStar is the only utility company the city is struggling with when it comes to the Somerville Avenue project. He is asking for better communication and would like to see someone from NStar attend the weekly meeting held for the parties involved to discuss progress and plans. NStar has sent someone to two meetings that Koty can recall. He said it has not been enough.

“They ignore you. They ignore you. They ignore you. They’ve been holding up the job,” he said. “It is frustrating for everyone involved. When things get delayed it ends up costing everyone money.”

NStar said it completed a work order to remove some of the polls on Monday. A representative of the company said it will address further concerns city officials raise once the letter is received.

“We have made a commitment to the city,” said Mike Durand, spokesman for NStar. “If city officials view us falling short in any way, we need to be made aware of it.”

Durand said as soon as the letter comes in, all appropriate personnel will be alerted and concerns will be addressed.

However, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann M. Heuston said the Somerville Avenue reconstruction project is just the latest example to shed light on NStar’s lack of due diligence.

“This is a city in darkness. NStar ignores this city. There is not one place other than Davis Square where you can see the crosswalk (at night),” said Hueston.

Davis Square street lighting is separate from the lights controlled by NStar.

Hueston said she is frustrated with the company’s lag time when it comes to replacing burnt out bulbs. She said she feels more affluent communities probably receive quicker response times. The long-time resident of Somerville said she feels the lack of street lighting may very well lead to accidents, and the city and residents will be the ones to suffer.

“It’s not good,” she said. “I guess it doesn’t matter when you are in a monopoly like that. When you are the only game in town, you don’t have to be responsible.”