EDENTON — Anyone who has tried to photograph a historic building knows the challenge: power lines and utility poles cutting across the frame.
Rather than relying on photo editing to remove those lines after the fact, a new infrastructure project will permanently clear much of that visual clutter and improve infrastructure in downtown Edenton.
Over the next two weeks, the Edenton Electric Department will bore underground to relocate overhead power and telecommunications lines along portions of Queen and Court streets. The work is part of a larger downtown streetscape initiative that recently received an $850,000 grant.
During the early morning hours of March 3, part of East Queen Street, near the Chowan County Courthouse, was blocked to traffic as vehicles sat on standby, ready to start work when crews arrived.
East Queen Street is closed from Broad to Court streets while utilities are buried. Beginning Wednesday, March 4, work will shift to Court Street, where telecommunications crews will install underground fiber optic lines. Court Street will be closed during that phase.
Town officials said downtown businesses will remain open during construction.
The Creswell Furniture parking lot will be open to through-traffic, allowing customers and employees to access the South lot. Parking spaces in front of Hotel Hinton on Court Street will be reserved for 18-wheel delivery trucks, which will not be able to navigate through the Creswell lot during construction.
Why bury utilities?
Relocating overhead lines underground is a common component of downtown revitalization projects, particularly in historic districts.
According to industry estimates, burying utilities in urban settings typically costs between $200 and $500 per linear foot, depending on soil conditions, density of existing infrastructure and whether several utilities — such as electric, cable and fiber — are installed simultaneously. That translates to roughly $600 to $1,500 per yard. Costs can increase in historic areas where excavation must be done carefully to avoid disturbing existing structures and utilities.
Despite the expense, municipalities often cite several long-term benefits:
- Improved aesthetics. Removing overhead lines can enhance the visual character of historic districts and improve the experience for residents and visitors.
- Storm resilience. Underground lines are less susceptible to wind and falling trees, which can reduce outages during severe weather.
- Safety. Burying lines reduces the risk of downed power lines and eliminates vehicle collisions with utility poles. The Albemarle Observer has witnessed several instances where delivery trucks barely clear the overhead lines on Court Street.
- Economic development. Infrastructure improvements are often linked to increased property values and private investment in revitalized downtown areas.
In February, the state announced that Edenton received an $850,000 grant to improve downtown lighting by installing new lights in existing spots and adding some in areas that need coverage. The overall improvements are expected to strengthen utilities, telecommunications capacity and the overall downtown environment.
Officials encouraged residents to continue shopping and dining downtown during construction.
The temporary closures, they said, are intended to support long-term improvements to Edenton’s infrastructure and historic streetscape.