Drivers and residents along Old Shell Road in the Village of Spring Hill should expect ongoing lane closures and tree work in the coming months as Alabama Power replaces aging utility poles between McGregor Avenue and Bit and Spur Road.
The project, which has already begun, is expected to take several months to complete, according to Alabama Power spokeswoman Beth Thomas. Crews will remove and replace poles that sit adjacent to or embedded in the sidewalk along the busy corridor, a process that requires trimming trees near the lines and, in some cases, closing a single lane of traffic while work is underway at each pole location.
“Alabama Power trims trees regularly to protect the safety of our customers and our employees who maintain the power lines,” Thomas said. “Trimming trees also helps us as we work to keep electric service reliable for our customers.”
It remains unclear whether any trees will need to be removed outright as part of the project. Thomas said the company will work directly with property owners if a tree poses a safety risk, whether it stands on private land or within the public right-of-way.
“When trees on private property pose a danger to the public or our workers who maintain the power lines, Alabama Power works closely with private landowners to determine how we can best ensure that we provide a safe environment,” Thomas said. “That may include trimming trees or even cutting down trees if that is warranted. Many times, we are able to offer options to a land owner so that he or she can decide what actions they prefer us to take.”
For trees located in the city right-of-way, Alabama Power coordinates with Mobile’s Urban Forester and works within guidelines set by the city’s Tree Commission, Thomas said.
However, Tree Commission Chairman Jesse McDaniel said the utility isn’t required to seek the commission’s approval for this kind of work. He said Alabama Power has held a standing permit since the 1960s that allows the company to remove trees within the rights-of-way as it sees fit, bypassing the review process the commission would normally handle for other tree removal requests in public areas.
McDaniel said Alabama Power does send a representative to the commission’s meetings, a practice that has continued throughout his time as chairman. Even so, he said the commission had not been notified in advance about the specific pole-replacement work planned for Spring Hill.
Beyond the tree work, residents can also expect some sidewalk disruption. Thomas confirmed that small sections of sidewalk where old poles are currently embedded may need to be removed to make way for new poles. Any sidewalks damaged during the process will be repaired by the company once the new poles are in place, she said, though sections may be temporarily closed for public safety while crews are actively working in the area.
“Our contract crews will be working as quickly and as safely as they can to complete this work,” Thomas said. “Meanwhile, we encourage motorists to take an alternate route if possible or allow extra time when traveling in the area and please watch out for workers along the route.”
Old Shell Road is one of the more heavily traveled corridors connecting Spring Hill to downtown Mobile, and it regularly carries school, commuter and commercial traffic throughout the day. With lane closures expected to move along the route as crews complete each pole, residents who travel the corridor regularly may want to plan for delays and watch for flaggers or work crews near active pole sites in the weeks ahead.