Power lines targeted for removal before peak hurricane season

Aerial power lines and poles could be removed from the town of Longboat Key as early as August.

The town hopes to have poles removed by that time, the latest being September, to avoid damages that may occur during peak hurricane season. 

“The town remains hopeful and working with (Florida Power and Light) to target pole removal throughout July, August and September 2023,” Public Works Director Isaac Brownman wrote in an email. 

Pole removal is the sole responsibility of FPL. The town has been working with FPL to expedite work, but the town doesn't decide scheduling. 

“The town continues moving forward with switching orders and conversions, albeit taking a little more time than expected as electrical switching orders and conversions on a major system undergrounding are a complicated, integrated process between the town’s contractor, Wilco, and FPL,” Brownman wrote. “There are many steps to that process and due care is required at every step.”

As of the most recent project updates, all work has been completed in Phase 1 and all FPL poles have been removed. Phase 1 covers Country Club Shores and the Longboat Key Club. 

Within Phase 2, all construction of FPL infrastructure is complete and the town is working with FPL to initiate switching orders. Switching orders is a process in which FPL energized sections of the new underground utility. Then, the contractor is able to perform meter conversions to individual properties. Once all switching orders in a phase have been issued and meter conversion work completed, then FPL can begin scheduling pole and aerial wire removal. 

Phase 2 runs from the north end of the island to Dream Island Road. 

Much like in Phase 2, in Phase 3 infrastructure construction is substantially complete. Final equipment still needs to be placed within Twin Shores and Gulf Shore Mobile Home Park, which is expected to be complete by the end of September. The town is continuing to work with FPL to initiate switching orders in the phase. 

Phase 3 runs from the north end of Country Club Shores to the Sarasota County line. 

In fourth and final phase, nearly all underground work is complete excluding 10 switches on Gulf of Mexico Drive. The additional switches became necessary as FPL worked to update its infrastructure. FPL installed the new infrastructure at no additional cost. The phase includes south of Dream Island Road to the county line.

Street lighting within the neighborhood sections is expected to be complete by the end of this year and includes 35-foot poles to be placed along Gulf of Mexico Drive.