SHAMOKIN - The city's half-century-old downtown street lighting system will be overhauled beginning next week.
A contractor for PPL Electric is expected to mobilize after President's Day and begin replacing 44 street lights along Independence Street. The project will start at Shamokin Street and move west toward Market Street.
It is expected to be completed by mid-May.
Shamokin and PPL officials gathered Friday at city hall for a pre-construction meeting to discuss scope, time line and communication.
Portions of the street lighting system will be de-energized as the project progresses, but Teri MacBride, regional affairs director for PPL, said Friday that "it will not be the entire system at any one time."
The existing "cobra-style" aluminum posts and lamps will be replaced with the same style of equipment, including high-pressure sodium bulbs. Underground conduit will be dug up and new wiring installed.
Portions of the road and any sidewalks and curbing dug up will be replaced, MacBride said.
Given the scope of the construction and the location, disruptions are expected
downtown.
"We realize the work will, at times, affect pedestrian and motor traffic along Independence Street. Working in cooperation with the city, we'll do our best to limit inconveniences to commerce and people visiting the business district," Christina Sepich, regional director of operations for PPL Electric Utilities, said in a press release.
A contract is expected to be awarded this week, MacBride said. Once workers are on site, they will be speaking with business owners, and project updates will come from PPL, she said.
The system will be owned and maintained by PPL. Shamokin pays a combined $11,200 in monthly tariffs, $134,400 annually, to cover maintenance and distribution charges for all 664 street lights in the city. The tariffs are funding the project and there is no additional cost to the city.
"This project will not affect the tariff or the amount the city pays," MacBride said.
A different company, Constellation Electric, supplies electricity to the street lighting system. They're paid about $1,200 monthly for the service.
Shamokin's downtown street lighting has increasingly malfunctioned over the years, including during heavy rainfall and at times leaving parts or all of Independence Street in the dark.
The replacement project had always been targeted by PPL for 2014, MacBride said.
It actually was on the company's construction schedule in 2013 but was ultimately moved to this year after city officials explored the possibility of purchasing its own system from another vendor.
The project was turned over to the Shamokin Planning Commission for its members to explore the cost of decorative lighting and an energy efficient system such as LED. PPL offers limited decorative options and does not offer LED systems.
It was ultimately determined by city council that it was too costly.