PORT TOWNSEND — Workmen on Monday began taking down the wires attached to utility poles on Water, Taylor and Washington streets, which precedes the removal of the poles.
Getting rid of the eight poles around the intersections of these streets is the final step in a $3.5 million renovation project that disrupted downtown traffic for several months.
The poles on the west side of Taylor Street carried cable television and electricity wires and were removed in June.
Poles on the street’s east side were solely used by telephone provider CenturyLink.
Late Friday, CenturyLink spokesperson Jan Kampbell said there was no evidence the poles would come down until the week of Sept. 24 as reported in Monday’s edition of the Peninsula Daily News.
“Sometimes, we aren’t all in the loop, and one thing gets done without the other department’s knowledge,” she said.
“But the good news is that it is all happening this week.”
On Monday, Kampbell got an email from engineering assistant Kara Rogers, who said the work had begun.
Crew leader Dave Holman of Excel Utility Construction of Port Angeles said he got the call Friday afternoon, saying the job would begin Monday.
By midafternoon, crews had already taken wires down on Water Street and one side of Taylor Street, and were expected to continue to the entire length of Taylor and a portion of Washington Street.
Holman said he expected all the wires to be removed this morning.
The extraction of the poles will begin then and could take a few days, Holman said.
Some of the poles are set in asphalt and will be easy to remove while those set in concrete will be more difficult, Holman said.
While there is no precise schedule, Holman said the project will be completed this week.
This will create a clear path for Port Townsend Film Festival activities that begin Friday.
During the festival, Taylor Street will be closed to traffic and occupied by an inflatable screen and bales of hay, turning the street into a makeshift theater.
Movies to be shown are “E.T.” on Friday. “The Empire Strikes Back” on Saturday and “Tootsie” on Sunday.
The movies, which are free and open to the public, are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
During the utility work, there will be some parking restrictions but no street closures, according to Port Townsend Police Officer Garin Williams.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
