Placement of Penticton power poles a problem after paving

PENTICTON – A couple of errant power poles on a newly reconstructed street corner by the City of Penticton has some people shaking their heads.

Residents in the area of Industrial Avenue and Atkinson Street have noticed two power poles at that intersection located on the crosswalk beyond the curb following the recent completion of a major reconstruction last week. No, it wasn't a mistake and people better get used to them because they could be there for another ten years.

Turns out the city is just trying to look out for taxpayers’ dollars.

City spokesperson Simone Blais says the two power poles are the property of Fortis B.C. — not the city. When the reconstruction project began, the city approached Fortis about relocating the poles, but they refused, saying the cost wasn’t in their budget.

“The intersection is designed so that when Fortis has to replace those poles in five to 10 years’ time, they will have to relocate them behind the city’s newly installed infrastructure at their cost, with no cost to the city or taxpayers,” Blais says in an email.

Prior to the street being rebuilt, there were no sidewalks or curbs to mark transition of the roadway to curb. As a result, the power poles did not appear to be interfering with the roadway as much as they do now.

"Intersection design always includes consideration of pedestrian traffic and accessibility. The work is not complete on site – when it is, there will be an interim solution in place to protect pedestrians that will be visible and accessible to those with mobility aids," Blais stated.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 4:30 p.m., June 2, 2015, with additional comments from the City of Penticton.

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19 responses

  1. Best solution, Phone the media, phone the City of Penticton, phone Fortis and mention to them move the pole or it gets brought down one way or another…..I will stand there all day every day if that is what it takes to bring those PATHETIC morons to their senses…..BLOODY HELL…..I SHAME THE City Administrator of Penticton….DO YOU GOD DAM JOB AND GET OFF YOUR FAT ASS, THE SAME GOES FOR THE REGIONAL management of FORTIS you are a bunch f lazy good for nothing wastes of skin….

  2. Exactly. Mindless people who do not have a clue how to run a corporation or a local government. Maybe a month, year from now someone dies, then the finger pointing and all the I-TOLD-YOU-SO COMES OUT.How will that help someone who is severely injured or dead?

  3. Derek Chudyk Oh, you mean like keeping a power power in the road and government and big business sit there talking about it until someone or someones child dies, THEN they get off their ass to do something about it. YOUR THE STUPID ONE NOT ME…..I would hate for someone to die and if making a few saw marks on a hydro pole means saving a life I WOULD DO IT….dam right.

  4. city should realign them send fortis the bill.

  5. completely stupid city planners.duuhhhh. looks good , start paving..fucking dumb asses.

  6. what were they thinking? not muchFortis and the city could have come some agreement surely or is that Shirleyidiots?

  7. City’s responsibility. VOTE IN A NEW MAYOR.Happy ????

  8. Avatar

    Maybe we could just add speed bumps like we have around the schools.Soon we will be called the bumpy city.

  9. Someone or a few someones are going to be killed or at least severely Injured then the blame game. Reminds me of 2 little children bickering in a school yard at recess.

  10. Absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps they could find the money with the outrageous increase they are shoving down our throat and with the “smart” meters?

  11. Absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps they could find the money with the outrageous increase they are shoving down our throat and with the “smart” meters?

  12. How stupid are you to advocate taking a chainsaw to a power pole? You should speak like a responsible adult.

  13. Strange how Fortis has power over all our Governments and how the company has very little regard for it’s customers safety at all. Money, money is all it thinks of….

  14. I hope that the City and Fortis have lots of insurance when they are held responsible for accidents.

  15. Clearly the city should have covered the cost to relocate the poles. Someone needs a lesson in risk management.

  16. we live right there and yup too many times my son and I have almost gotten hit by cars turning right (and not looking that we have the walk signal) and now since the new paving, it’s even worse.

  17. How does person in a wheelchair or 4 wheel scooter use this corner?

  18. how about protecting pedestrians from being hit? Blind spot around poles, I am sure will be an issue…

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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