By Matt Wiley
Some consider them an eyesore, but they’re part of the reason we can see anything with our eyes at night in our area and the life source for anything electronic. The 300-ft.-wide electrical transmission line that runs through Tampa Palms may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it’s essential for keeping the power flowing throughout the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Electric Company (TECO) is getting ready to give the power corridor a facelift and is hosting a public meeting in our area for residents before that construction begins.
According to TECO spokesperson Cherie Jacobs, the current wooden ‘H’ poles that run down the center of the transmission line south of Yardley Way in the Enclave community of Tampa Palms Area 1 soon will be replaced with new steel poles. An “open-house” style public meeting will be held on Thursday, October 15, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Compton Park at Tampa Palms clubhouse (16101 Compton Dr.).
The pole upgrade is part of a larger $14-million project to improve reliability in the area, Jacobs says. Construction is scheduled to begin in November and the project is expected to take about a year to complete.
“TECO is making some reliability improvements in northeastern Hillsborough County, including rebuilding one substation and updating another,” Jacobs says. “This also includes installing an eight-mile (transmission) line in between the stations that will travel through Tampa Palms.”
The Tampa Palms area is geographically between the Davis substation (located south of E. Fowler Ave. off Davis Rd.) and the Chapman substation, which is located off Livingston Ave. in Lutz. The Davis substation will be upgraded, while the Chapman substation is going to be completely rebuilt.
Jacobs explains that the new poles will be a little taller, but “cleaner looking.” The poles will stand between 90-100 ft. tall, each with a 4-ft. base.
Jacobs says that construction could temporarily disrupt traffic on streets (in Tampa Palms) that cross the corridor, which include Wareham Dr., Fairchild Dr., Halsey Rd., Compton Dr., Tampa Palms Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. She adds that detours and road closures will be clearly marked.
Construction will mainly occur during daylight hours on weekdays, Jacobs says, adding that there could be additional night and weekend work, but that it would likely be very rare.
“No one will have a power outage because of this project,” Jacobs assures concerned local residents. “It will be a seamless improvement for the homes and businesses in the area.”
The utility transmission corridor in Tampa Palms, which also houses a Duke Energy power line, caused a stir in February of 2014, when a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulation forced utility companies to cut down vegetation that could potentially interfere with their power lines. TECO cut down trees within 50-100 ft. of their lines in Tampa Palms, while Duke cut down trees within 50 ft. of their poles. The result was an even clearer view for Tampa Palms residents of the lines that, previously, had been largely blocked by the foliage.
This project won’t interfere with any foliage, just the “H-poles,” Jacobs says. “We understand that people appreciate the trees and natural environment around them,” Jacobs explains. “The good thing here is this is an existing corridor, not a new line.”
Tampa Palms Owners Association president Bill Edwards says that he sees the project as a positive one for the community, as well.
“TECO is always a good neighbor and we are pleased they are presenting these upgrades to the community in person,” Edwards says. “The new poles (will be) less intrusive than the old ones.”
For more info about the project, please visit TampaElectric.com.
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