Delmarva Power upgrades Rehoboth power lines
Delmarva Power is upgrading 40 light poles and installing new electric lines in Rehoboth Beach, but city officials say they are concerned the new poles could damage the city's recently renovated sidewalks.
Work has begun on King Charles Avenue, with additional improvements on Columbia and Brooklyn avenues, as well as on First Street.
Rehoboth City Manager Greg Ferrese said Delmarva Power coordinated the project through Mayor Sam Cooper. Ferrese said he has been assured any damaged done to the sidewalks, recently repaired to meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, would be repaired.
Matt Likovich, spokesman for Delmarva Power, said the project will not affect accessibility and that required access will be maintained. Likovich said city engineers took part in a walk around with Delmarva Power before the project began.
Cooper said the project is a necessary upgrade to poles that have not been replaced in 50 years, but he did not want pole replacements to interfere with accessibility. Cooper said little communication with the city occurred before the project began. “They’re just doing it,” he said.
Likovich said the city and the company have been in constant communication throughout the process.
Once poles and electric lines are installed, customers will be switched to the new lines. Outages will last several hours. Crews will notify customers affected by the outages and any business outages will be coordinated for nonbusiness hours.
Likovich said Delmarva Power will provide door-to-door warnings to residents before planned outages; door hangers will alert residents not home at the time of notification, which will occur 24 to 48 hours in advance of a planned outage.
Delmarva Power plans to complete the upgrades by the spring.
Pole replacement work will occur on:
- Columbia Avenue between Grove and Third streets
- North First Street between Lake Gerar and Rehoboth Avenue
- South First Street between Rehoboth Avenue and Philadelphia Street
- King Charles Avenue between Philadelphia Street and Silver Lake
- Brooklyn Avenue.
