Planned Port Coquitlam outages include power pole replacements

Outages expected as BC Hydro replaces aging Port Coquitlam power poles

Dozens of residents will be impacted by the temporary outages as some of the wooden structures have reached the end of their life.

BC Hydro crews are set to replace some aging power poles in Port Coquitlam this month.BC HYDRO FILE PHOTO

The average life-span of a wooden power pole is three to five decades as they deteriorate over the years from the outdoors.

Several of these aging structures are set to be replaced in the Tri-Cities as early as tomorrow (Aug. 17) — primarily in Port Coquitlam.

As a result, dozens of BC Hydro customers will experience pre-planned temporary outages during the respective replacement projects.

The majority of the upcoming work is set to be done in Port Coquitlam near Sun Valley Park and Cedar Drive Elementary.

During the warmer months, the provincial service replaces thousands of aging poles and equipment for the benefit of its community reach.

About 13,000 wooden and concrete poles are replaced each year, BC Hydro says in a post on its website, adding there are roughly one million transmission and distribution poles across its system's network.

The agency notes it informs local residents of its projects well in advance, and encourages commuters to obey traffic management crews nearby.

"For the first hour after the power comes back on, only plug in or turn on those electronics and appliances that you only need," reads a BC Hydro reminder for when its work is finished.

"This gives the system time to stabilize and prevents it from getting overloaded."

Upcoming pole replacements and other projects, and BC Hydro customers set to be impacted, are as follows:

Port Coquitlam

Aug. 17 = 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- St Thomas Street
  - 3608-3609, 3620-3621, 3632-3633, 3641-3642, 3652-3654, 3664, 3666, 3667, 3675-3676, 3678, 3685, 3688, 3693, 3695-3696

Aug. 22 = 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Langan Avenue
  - 1831, 1837

Aug. 25 = 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Chelsea Avenue
  - 1511, 1531, 1550, 1562
- Coast Meridian Road
  - 3917, 3925, 3933, 3941, 3949, 3957
- Robin Place
  - 3852, 3863-3864, 3875-3876, 3887, 3899, 3905-3906, 3913-3914, 3921-3922, 3929-3930, 3937-3938, 3943-3944, 3951-3952, 3959-3960, 3968, 3976
- Sefton Street
  - 3842, 3945, 3850, 3855, 3862, 3865, 3882-3883, 3891, 3909, 3916-3917, 3924-3925, 3932-3933, 3940-3941, 3948-3949, 3956-3957

Aug. 25 = 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (planned equipment work)
- Fraser Avenue
  - 1195, 1197
- Newberry Street
  - 3079, 3080, 3128, 3128, 3129, 3135, 3136, 3143, 3144, 3151, 3152, 3159, 3160, 3167, 3168, 3168, 3175, 3176, 3183, 3184
- Prairie Avenue
  - 1188, 1210

Aug. 26 = 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Liverpool Street
  - 3621, 3622, 3629, 3630, 3637, 3638, 3645, 3646, 3653, 3654, 3661, 3662, 3669, 3670, 3677, 3678
- Patricia Avenue
  - 1621, 1665, 1673