Final Phase of Ingleside Ave. AUB Power Upgrade Requires Caution, Traffic Control

Media Contact:

Wayne Scarbrough

(423) 745-4501 ext. 6002

wscarbrough@aub.org

June 19, 2019

ATHENS, Tenn. – Power division crews from Athens Utilities Board (AUB) on Monday, June 24, will begin the final push on infrastructure upgrades near the E.G. Fisher Public Library.

This will be the second of two phases of AUB’s Ingleside Avenue Upgrade Project and the rebuilding of two power distribution circuits that emanate from the North Athens Substation on Ingleside Avenue.  The first phase was performed in early May.

“The work will take four to five days to complete and will require traffic control including flaggers each day in the big curve near the library and Woodward Avenue to ensure worker and public safety,” said AUB’s Wayne Scarbrough.

AUB’s power engineers and crews have coordinated the work such that no planned power outages are required.

Traffic control and construction is planned to begin at 8:30 a.m. each weekday morning to allow for most early work traffic to dissipate.

Over the course of the work week, AUB crews will replace seven power poles and all associated crossarms and hardware that will carry three phases of new, more robust distribution conductor.  The crews also will construct a backup power feed to AUB’s nearby Ingleside Spring that provides much of the local drinking water.

“Also, importantly, this rebuild will improve our backup feeds for key industries on these circuits, such as Mayfield Dairy Farms, E&E Manufacturing, and Adient,” Scarbrough said.

He said the greatest concern during the work is human health and safety.

“We plan extensively for safety on the ground and in the air for our workers and regarding the traveling public, but traffic can make things tricky,” he said.

“This is a busy highway, and the big curve near the library requires even more caution.  We ask that drivers be patient and understand that delays are all about keeping them and workers alive and well,” he said.

In bad weather threatens the planned work timeframe, AUB will reschedule the work for July.

-xxx-