Fallen Tree, Downed Power Lines Close Green Street Temporarily

Media Contact:

Wayne Scarbrough

(423) 745-4501 ext. 6002

wscarbrough@aub.org

April 5, 2018

ATHENS, Tenn. – An early morning power outage and street closure rerouted traffic around a popular route of travel that feeds downtown Athens.

The trouble began at around 3:30 overnight.  Power was restored to all customers at 8:10 a.m.

A tree on property along Green Street fell, taking out power lines and breaking a utility pole in the process. The downed lines and damage to the pole required that AUB power crews close a portion of Green Street while repairs were made, and cleanup of the area continues.

The first call came in at 3:24 a.m. with callers reporting a loud bang and power out.  The fallen tree took out a single-phase line leaving nine customers without power for about five hours.

Power crews have been working since the first call came in along with AUB tree trimming contract crews that worked to remove the tree and large amount of related debris to allow power crews to replace the pole and get the lines back up and energized.

AUB continues to work with other local responders to get Green Street cleared and opened as quickly as possible.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as they awaited power restoration or took a different route of travel due to the street closing.

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