WAPA contractor crews are in the process of replacing approximately 100 wooden utility poles along a stretch of roadway on St. Croix, having noticed that many of the poles were rotted, the authority announced Saturday.
“Our assessment determined that these poles were compromised and measures were taken to replace the rotted poles with new, taller, wooden poles to ensure uninterrupted service to customers along the east end road from Southgate to Turner Hole,” said Clinton Hedrington, Jr., chief operating officer of Electric System.
Mr. Hedrington noted that this area is slated for the installation of more resilient composite poles. However, until the poles are on-island for installation along the east end road, the decision was made to replace the compromised poles with newer wooden poles. Once the composite poles are installed, the recently planted wooden poles will be removed. Approximately 22 of the 100 poles have already been replaced, according to WAPA.
Haugland Energy is under contract with WAPA to install a total of 2,867 composite poles across St. Croix. The addition of composite poles is one of several mitigation projects being funded by FEMA and HUD, to add more resiliency to the utility’s electric grid. The newer type poles can withstand sustained winds of 200 miles per hour and carry a 40-year warranty.
Tags: usvi, virgin islands water and power authority, wapa
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