PSEG will begin a seven-month project in the Mineola area to replace poles in the most vulnerable spots.
The project is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of a $20 million Public Assistance grant Gov. Andrew Cuomo received after Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
PSEG will replace existing wires with weather-resistant ones, install more durable poles in several locations, and install or replace switching equipment to reduce the number of customers affected by outages.
The new poles, which are around the same height but will have a stronger base, will be placed about two feet from the current poles.
PSEG crews will work on 4.5 miles of an electric main line circuit, including on Mineola Boulevard between Third Street and Old Country Road and Old Country Road between Mineola Boulevard and County Seat Drive. There will be minor traffic interruptions due to the work, according to a PSEG letter to customers.
PSEG is coordinating with cable TV and telephone utilities during this process. According to a customer letter, PSEG “anticipates some localized, intentional, short-duration power outages related to this project,” but all affected customers will be notified in advance.
Additionally, trees will be trimmed to be no closer than eight feet to each side of the conductor, or 12 feet above and 10 feet below.
The project is one of more than 300 distribution circuit updates occurring under the FEMA grant, according to Jeremy Walsh, a PSEG representative.
“Our mission includes ensuring excellent reliability for our customers,” Walsh said. “We’ll continue to work for that every day.”
PSEG crews will work during the week Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited evening and Sunday work.
