Palm Beach Town Council to get update on town-wide undergrounding project

Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Daily News
·2 min read
The 10-year, $128 million undergrounding project got underway in 2017, and is expected to be finished in 2026. Here, work was being done along North Lake Way in May 2021.
The 10-year, $128 million undergrounding project got underway in 2017, and is expected to be finished in 2026. Here, work was being done along North Lake Way in May 2021.

As progress continues with the town-wide undergrounding project, town staff will share an update with the Town Council at its meeting Tuesday.

The 10-year, $128 million project got underway in 2017, and is expected to be finished in 2026, the town said Friday. As part of the multi-phase project, all overhead power, cable television and phone lines will be buried.

Related:Parts of Palm Beach undergrounding project nearly $2M over budget amid rising construction costs

Work will be completed in eight phases, with the first seven phases separated into north and south areas.

According to the town, 10 of 15 construction zones are either complete, in progress, or funded for construction.

Those zones include 1 North, 1 South, 2 North, 2 South, 3 North, 3 South, 4 North, 4 South, 5 North and 5 South. Phases 6 North and 6 South are awaiting delivery of materials.

Staff meetings for Phase 7 North and South and Phase 8 easement meetings are ongoing, the town said.

Work on the town's 10-year, $128 million undergrounding project is expected to be complete in 2026.
Work on the town's 10-year, $128 million undergrounding project is expected to be complete in 2026.

Phase 1 South is from Sloan’s Curve to the south town limit; Phase 1 North, from Onondaga Avenue north to the Palm Beach Inlet; Phase 2 North, from Onondaga Avenue south to Osceola Way; and Phase 3 North, from Osceola Way to the north side of La Puerta Way, are complete, according to the town.

Phase 2 South, from Sloan’s’ Curve to the intersection of South Ocean Boulevard and South County Road, is 96% complete; Phase 4 North, from the south side of La Puerta Way to the north side of List Road, is 91% complete; Phase 3 South, from South Ocean Boulevard and South County Road to the alleyway south of Worth Avenue, is 79% complete; and Phase 4 South, from Peruvian Avenue to Royal Palm Way, is 21% complete.

Design or construction work continues on the remaining phases.

Also Tuesday, the council will:

• Hear a report about the Ordinances, Rules and Standards Committee's Nov. 17 meeting.

• Vote on ordinances amending the town's budget and a section of town code related to personnel.

• Hear presentations and make appointments to the Code Enforcement Board.

• Hold a discussion on expanding the Landmarks program.

• Hear annual reports from the town's Recreation Advisory Committee and Palm Beach Island Cats.

Council members will meet at 9:30 a.m. at Town Hall. Members of the public can participate in person or via Zoom. Those wishing to make public comments virtually can access the Zoom link on the town's Meeting Audio page.

On Wednesday, the council also will host its monthly development review meeting at 9:30 a.m. Members of the public can participate in person or via Zoom. Those wishing to make public comments virtually can access the Zoom link on the town's Meeting Audio page.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Town-wide undergrounding project making progress in Palm Beach