Seattle City Light is planning to replace aging utility poles in parts of Seattle and Burien to help improve and upgrade the electrical reliability in parts of the service territory. The installation of new poles, wire and equipment relocation is an important investment in infrastructure.
Starting in early to mid-May, Seattle City Light’s contractor, Magnum Power LLC, will be installing new utility poles, relocating wires to the new pole and replacing aging equipment in various Seattle and Burien neighborhoods. Work hours are scheduled from Mondays to Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maps of the construction work areas can be found here: 2016 Pole Replacement – South Location Maps
The new poles will be placed alongside pre-existing poles. They will meet standard heights and widths required for overhead power line construction. This may mean that poles in the area will be slightly taller and approximately two inches wider than existing poles.
Maintenance power outages are required for this work. Crews will place a door hanger or make personal contact within 48 to 72 hours of the outage date. The notification will specify the date, time and duration of the outage.
Once the electrical equipment is relocated, it may take several months before the other companies with utilities on the existing poles make their transfer(s). We will continue to monitor/coordinate these efforts as needed to facilitate the removal of old poles.
For more information, customers can contact:
- William Chin, Senior Capital Projects Coordinator at william.chin@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7977
- Kevin Knutz, Magnum Power Project Manager at kevin@magnumpowerllc.com or (360) 904-8318
Visit our construction website for the latest updates on this project: http://www.seattle.gov/light/atwork/release.asp?RN=356
Ellen Metz says
Just want to commend you on tackling such a huge project! May all go well, and may everyone stay safe.
Blessings.
rebecca says
This project is coming up on the one year completion date. Is there updated information on the removal of the old poles?
Thank you!
thomses says
Utility poles are typically co-owned by all the organizations that have equipment on them. When we replace poles, City Light moves its lines and other equipment onto the new one. The old one is topped and secured to the new pole. Other organizations that have equipment on the old pole, such as cable companies, are contacted so that they can transfer their equipment onto the new pole. When the last lines are transferred, whichever company did the last work removes the pole. City Light cannot work on other organizations’ or companies’ equipment. We are working with those companies to reduce the number of double poles that are out there.