Underground Cherrydale :: Bury the Line

Get ready for some major traffic disruptions in Cherrydale along Lee Hwy as the power goes underground.  Hopefully this will lead to widening some of the awesomely narrow sidewalks in the heart of Cherrydale.

Arlington County Board Awards $1.2 Million Contract for Last Phase of Lee Highway Utility Undergrounding Project February 11, 2012

• Last phase of undergrounding overhead utilities along Lee Highway
• Continues revitalizing Cherrydale neighborhood & commercial area
• Makes Lee Highway safer, more walkable and vibrant

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Arlington County Board today approved the award of a $1.2 million contract to Trafford Corporation for construction of last phase of the Lee Highway Cherrydale Electrical Utility Undergrounding Improvements project.

When complete, the project will underground utility lines along the south side of Lee Highway from the I-66 ramp west of Spout Run to North Quincy Street. The first phase, now in its final stages of construction, will remove the overhead utility lines from the I-66 ramp to N. Monroe St. This last phase, expected to be completed late in 2013, will remove the overhead lines from N. Monroe St. to N. Quincy St.

“Working together with the community and our partners, we’ve been able to overcome some very significant design and real-life challenges that come with undergrounding in a dense, heavily travelled corridor like Lee Highway,” said Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes. “Arlington County is committed to completing this project and fulfilling the community’s vision for a safer, more walkable and vibrant Cherrydale.”

Multi-year effort with VDOT, utilities

Today’s contract award furthers the County’s multi-year effort, in partnership with VDOT, Dominion Virginia Power, Verizon, and Comcast, to underground utilities as part of the Lee Highway/Cherrydale Revitalization Plan adopted in 1994. It also meets the timelines associated with the resumption of the Lee Highway Bromptons project in 2009. Transferring electrical utilities from overhead poles to underground will create a more pedestrian-friendly space along the busy Lee Highway corridor and will make aesthetic improvements that will help revitalize the Cherrydale neighborhood. Undergrounding also will increase reliability of the power supply by eliminating potential disruptions from weather or traffic accidents.

Upon completion of this contract, Dominion Virginia Power will install the new underground cables and related infrastructure and remove the existing overhead electrical cables and poles. Removal of the poles and completion of the project is slated for late 2013.  Once the undergrounding is complete, the County will be able to complete streetscape improvements along Lee Highway from N. Oakland St to N. Quincy St.

The Board voted unanimously as part of the consent agenda to approve the contract.

Visit the project webpage for a detailed timeline and information on upcoming community meetings.

For more information on the contract, read the staff report from the County Board’s February 11, 2012 Regular Meeting Agenda  (Item #16).