Town of Clarkstown and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. Announce Project to Bury Electric Lines on Lake Deforest Causeway.

Orange & Rockland (O&R) plans to begin work Monday (Aug, 17) on a $2.5 million storm-hardening project designed to improve service resiliency and minimize storm-related service interruptions by burying the overhead electric lines that run along the causeway that crosses Lake DeForest between Congers and New City in Clarkstown.

This project calls for undergrounding existing overhead lines only. The utility poles, which are owned by Verizon, will remain as will the town-owned street lights attached to them.

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann said, “The Town of Clarkstown has long desired for the wires along the causeway to be buried underground making requests to O&R in 2016, 2018, and 2020. We are delighted that O&R sees the wisdom in this as well, and we are glad to work together to harden the system. In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias in which ten poles fell across the causeway, clearly this project will be a great benefit to the Town.”

The project is part of O&R’s storm hardening program that includes the strategic undergrounding of critical and outage prone overhead circuits throughout the O&R electric system, making it more reliable.

O&R Vice President – Operations Francis W. Peverly said, “Undergrounding overhead electric lines at critical locations has proven to be a valuable tool in reducing storm-related power outages. Used strategically, it provides high-value results for our customers and the communities we serve in terms of reducing storm damage and preserving electric reliability.”

O&R has secured all required public approvals and permits for this project.

The contractor crews will be performing the work generally between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Traffic control will be fully deployed for workplace safety as necessary. Motorists should exercise extra caution while driving through the work area. Expect periodic traffic delays and occasional detours as the work progresses.

“We are encouraging the other utilities, Verizon and Altice, to join O&R in these efforts on the causeway so we can eventually have all the wires underground,” Supervisor George Hoehmann added.

Laurie Santulli County Legislator whose district includes Congers said, “I am pleased to hear this project is going forward. Thank you to Orange and Rockland Utilities and the Town of Clarkstown for working together to make the causeway safer and for outages to be less likely in Congers.”

📷 by Rockland Aerial Photography