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Council questions utility-pole options and undergrounding costs on Bridal Road project
Summary
Council members pressed staff about moving utility poles and guy wires on the Bridal Road project; public-works staff said pulling poles into pullouts would typically be PUD-funded, while undergrounding large transmission lines would be substantially more expensive, potentially "easily double the price of the project."
During the staff report on the Bridal Road project, council members asked whether moving utility poles into pullouts would resolve guy-wire issues and whether the city could cost-share to underground lines. Public-works/engineering staff responded that poles on the brick road would be placed in pullouts and that poles closer to the alley posed greater challenges. The staff member said moving poles into pullouts would generally be PUD responsibility and PUD-funded.
On undergrounding, the staff member cautioned it would be significantly more expensive: "Undergrounding that power is gonna be very expensive. It's easily double the price of the project," the staff member said. Council members asked staff to gather more information and to talk with PUD about cost-sharing or alternatives; staff agreed to follow up with additional information for council consideration.
Council discussion reflected interest in safer pedestrian design while balancing sharply higher construction costs for underground utilities and potential schedule impacts.
