By Manny Grossman

The big dig was set to start in October, but the Public Service Commission ordered the utility company to better assess the plan's impact on the community.

At a briefing last week, representatives from Con Edison told Community Board 8 members they would give them a chance to comment on the utility's plan to put its "M29" power line through the heart of Riverdale before it is formally submitted to the state Public Service Commission.

Four representatives from Con Edison's public relations staff offered the briefing as "a courtesy" to the community, said Saul Scheinbach, chairman of the board's environment and sanitation committee.

Although Con Ed had intended to start construction of the controversial power line in October, its installation was put on hold last August when the Public Service Commission ordered the utility to revise its environmental management and construction plan. The commission said the plan did not adequately address Riverdale- specific issues such as tree removal, night construction and the installation of nine manholes, as well as obstruction of Fire Engine and Ladder 52 on Henry Hudson Parkway and the overall schedule of construction.

Con Edison has begun the process of revising its plan, and according to spokesman Chris Olert, hopes to present it to the commission by the end of the year.

But before it is submitted, Mr. Scheinbach said that the representatives from Con Ed pledged that they would present it to the community board first. Board members would then have two weeks to review it and respond.

The plan calls for the line to come in from Yonkers down Riverdale Avenue, crossing the Henry Hudson Parkway at West 252nd Street, and continuing south on the parkway's eastern service road until it reconnects with Riverdale Avenue. From there it would continue south along Riverdale Avenue until West 230th Street, where it would run eastward until Broadway.

There it would turn south again, running down to the River Plaza shopping center, where it would cut through part of the parking lot before diving under the river to Manhattan.