HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A month-long transmission line relocation project will soon be getting underway in Huntington.
The Darrah-Owens project will take place on 8th Avenue, between Artisan Avenue and 26th Street.
Amanda DeHaven, AEP’s Project Outreach Specialist for the project, said the project will create a safer distance from the power equipment to the street.
“The team is ensuring a safer distance between the electric structures and the road, and the first part of the construction project is to move the transmission lines from the southside to the northside of the street on new steel structures,” DeHaven said.
She said that pre-construction activities began this month however delays have been imminent because of winter weather that the state has seen.
And if weather permits it, DeHaven said that the actual relocation should begin in March.
“Construction crews plan to install poles and string wire which may impact residents on their daily commutes and with periodic lane closures so much of the start of work is dependent on the weather so that’s when we’re estimating that this will begin,” she said.
She said that construction will take place mainly during the day and that crews will be there to keep track of traffic.
“There planning to use flaggers and signs to aid in traffic control, but some of the lane closures will be unavoidable when we’re moving wire from one side to another side of the road,” DeHaven said.
She encouraged motorists to avoid the area and be patient with the construction crews while the project is going on.
“Please be patient, we’re working as quickly and safely as we can, and dealing with weather will slow our progress,” DeHaven said.
While the project will last a month, DeHaven said that their will be a second phase to the project.
“We will move the distribution and telecom wires and the wooden structure further away from the road on the southside, moving further south off of 8th,” she said.
This phase will occur sometime later this year.
DeHaven also said that AEP plans on posting updates on their website appalachianpower.com/Darrah-Owens, their Facebook Appalachian Power and will be putting ads on Facebook’s for residence in the area.