AUB To Perform Late Night Pole Relocation on Tuesday

Media Contact:

Wayne Scarbrough

(423) 745-4501 ext. 6002

wscarbrough@aub.org

August 15, 2019

ATHENS, Tenn. – On Tuesday, Aug. 20, beginning at 11 p.m., Athens Utilities Board power division crews will work in coordination with the city of Athens and a local contractor to relocate a large, concrete power pole, moving it some 40 feet north of its current location just across from the intersection of Congress Parkway and Railroad Ave.

The pole must be relocated in conjunction with an upcoming Public Works project to remove an aging section of stormwater line and replace it with a new culvert in an area of unstable subsurface conditions that has resulted in significant erosion near the power pole.

“This will be an interesting, carefully planned and executed job.  The pole weighs some 18,000 pounds and will need to be crane-lifted straight up and moved slowly with heavy gage transmission and distribution lines still attached about 70 feet above,” said AUB’s Wayne Scarbrough.

The work will require a planned power outage for 188 AUB power customers.  AUB is contacting all customers to ensure they are well aware of the plans.

“A few of the customers that will be affected are businesses that have daytime-only operations and the rest are residential customers,” Scarbrough said.

He said that AUB’s desire is to have the distribution lines back in service within two to three hours, which would restore customers to all affected, but owing to the scope and safety concerns of the job, the work could take longer.

“We need to give kudos to Kevin Goins, who is in charge of our power operations, as well as the crews he oversees.  He and the crews have meticulously planned this job—every move and mechanical need—to ensure that all prep work is place to minimize customer downtime and to pull this job off safely.  He and the power group are on point, as usual,” Scarbrough said.

Areas affected by the outage include a small section along the west side of Congress Parkway from Redfern Drive south to around Carter Road as well as Lee Manor Apartments, a small portion of Kenneth Street, and both the “low and high” sections of Mt. Verd Road. 

The large crane required for the work will require that a section of the right lane on the southbound side of Congress Parkway be coned off.  AUB is working with Public Works to ensure traffic flow safety for the workers and public.

In the event of bad weather, the work will be done the following night if conditions permit.

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