PSEG Long island conducting storm hardening work in Long Island communities

PSEG Long Island is conducting storm-hardening work in the communities of East Massapequa, North Amityville, Amityville, and Babylon as part of its Power On program.

The work began in early January and will continue for about four months. Among the projects being done, PSEG Long Island will replace some existing utility poles with stronger, more durable poles capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph. The new poles will be roughly the same height as the existing poles, have a stronger base, and will be placed no more than 5 feet from the current pole locations. In addition, PSEG Long Island will be installing shorter cross arms atop some poles to help wires deflect falling limbs instead of catching them. Further, crews will replace current wire with more resilient and durable wire and upgrade or replace worn equipment as necessary.

“PSEG Long Island is strengthening the electric lines that directly power homes and businesses because we know that electric reliability is more important than ever to our customers,” said Peggy Keane, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Construction and Operations Services. “This Power On infrastructure improvement project in East Massapequa, North Amityville, Amityville and Babylon is part of our ongoing, multi-year effort to continue to improve electric reliability for our customers.”

The work is being done at the following locations: E Chestnut Street between Dover Street and Clocks Boulevard; Clocks Boulevard between E Chestnut Street and Louden Avenue; E Cedar Street between Clocks Boulevard and Kenwood Avenue; Louden Avenue between Clocks Boulevard and east of County Line Road; Country Line Road between E Pine Street and Ritter Avenue; Ritter Avenue between Broadway and west of County Line Road; Broadway between Ritter Avenue and Brefni Street; Marilyn Avenue between County Line Road and Broadway; Washington Avenue between County Line Road and Broadway.

To ensure traffic moves safely, PSEG Long Island will provide cones, flaggers, and signage at the worksites, as needed. Local officials also will be notified in advance regarding any potential traffic concerns.

Power On is a five-year program that started in the spring of 2020. Since its launch, more than 256 miles of the most vulnerable distribution mainline circuits on Long Island and in the Rockaways have been storm hardened with stronger poles, thicker wire, and other modern equipment. These investments have strengthened the system so that fewer customers experience outages and, when they do occur, the duration is shorter.