Sept. 13, 2006 — The V.I. Water and Power Authority expects to complete Phase II of the Feeder No. 8 underground electrical service project to Frederiksted by Dec. 21, according to a WAPA release Wednesday.
The release continues: "Fortress Electrical Contracting Corporation began Tuesday installing electrical cables into conduits on the Melvin H. Evans Highway. The conduits were installed by Zenon Construction during the first part of Phase II in October 2004. Construction crews will be working from the intersection of the East Airport Road west to the intersection of Emancipation Drive, then north to the intersection at the Hannah's Rest traffic light. .
Work is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. As work continues, the left lane on Evans Highway heading west will remain closed in the construction zone. Motorists are asked to observe road signs and to proceed with caution.
This project continues WAPA's effort to minimize the negative impact of wind storms and hurricanes on electrical service to its customers. Once Phase II cables are energized, communities adjacent to Evans Highway will receive electrical power from the underground Feeder No. 8 through riser poles. WAPA expects to energize the William's Delight areas by this October, followed by the Carlton, Good Hope and Whim areas. This project is part of a larger mitigation concept developed by the authority for its electrical underground system.
During earlier phases of the undergrounding project, the authority constructed facilities from the Richmond Power Plant to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and from the airport to the Hannah's Rest intersection. The entire project is funded, in part, from Series 1998 and 2003 bonds and will cost about $18 million. Once completed, Phase II will cost $5.7 million and represents 75 percent of this project.
The first part of Phase III began in July. General Engineering Corporation construction crews have installed pipes and manholes from the Hannah's Rest traffic light, north on Route 70, and are now on Prince Street working towards the Lagoon Street intersection area. Work is expected to be completed by mid-October. The entire Feeder No. 8 project is expected to be completed by June 2008.
St. Croix's underground facilities from the Richmond plant to Juan F. Luis Hospital; and on St. Thomas, from the Randolph Harley Power Plant to the Cyril E. King Airport and to Roy L. Schneider Hospital have improved electrical service to WAPA customers. Plans are being developed to put the Christiansted and Charlotte Amalie electrical systems underground." [End of release]
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
