Street lights falling off Verizon antennas on Rehoboth Avenue

For an unknown amount of time, three of four Verizon antennas on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach have had yellow tape and orange cones surrounding them, taking up multiple parking spots at each location.

According to Public Works Director Kevin Williams, over the winter months, three of the total eight lights on the poles have fallen. The city has temporarily replaced them with old lights, Williams said.

The city has blocked the area under the remaining poles while Verizon searches for replacements, said Williams. In the meantime, he said, Apple Electric will install safety cables to the remaining lights so that if they do fall, they won’t fall all the way to the ground.

No timetable was given for how long it will take Verizon to find replacement parts.

Verizon installed the antennas, which are designed to look like typical street light poles, in 2021. AT&T installed two antennas on Rehoboth Avenue in early 2019.