Residents of St. Michaels and area visitors have found their path to walk or bike on the St. Michaels walking trail blocked by caution tape over the past few weeks as workers from Delmarva Power have been busy upgrading power lines as part of their multi-year Reliability Project.
Beyond removing trees and cutting shrubs, that project leapt to new heights – literally – this week with the installation of an industrial size power tower next to St. Michaels’ iconic covered bridge. Apparently, Delmarva need not concern itself with historic preservation or local town appearances. Moreover, joggers and bikers will now need to detour around the enormous pole and its foundation which were relocated to new spot in the center of the walking trail.
One would think that along the Chesapeake one might aim for fewer, less obtrusive power poles, not one that’s related to an industrial smokestack. It’s unclear who approved such monstrosities, especially when this appears to be the only one of its kind for miles around.
John J. O’Connor
St. Michaels
Michael Estrella says
A story in the Star Democrat this week covers the work being done on the power grid. The work can easily be seen as you travel up route 33 towards Easton. The high power lines follow the old railroad tracks, part of which became nature trail (Rails to Trails). There are a great deal of large poles being used all the way up 33, not just on the trail.
Dan Watson says
Part of the “Built Environment” story. It really does trigger the question about review and approval processes (if any), regarding our infrastructure and public utilities. “Utility” is not the sole criteria in Talbot County. People care.
DW
Angela Rieck says
Thank you for this letter, as a twice daily user of the path, I have wondered why the bridge was blocked so many weeks ago without any work being done. They could have blocked the bridge for the point where we could at least go on it, but they chose to close it long before they started working on it. I agree there is a plan and there is a need, but the plan should have included the impact on the residents and tourists and it could have been more “user” friendly. Thank you for commenting
Steve Shimko says
I went down the path and over the covered bridge on Saturday, and talked to one of of the crew members working on the lines. First of all, as I stated in my comment to the Spy’s Facebook post, the foreshortening effect of the zoom lens that was used gives a distorted view of where the new metal tower is located. It’s actually further away from the path, on the side away from town, than the pole it is replacing. It is definitely not in the middle of the path as the picture might suggest. Also, the new towers and poles are replacing old ones, and are not in addition to what’s already there.
I did not ask as to need for the size of the new tower.