Ortega - Venetia Electric Improvement Projects
Estimated Dates & Work Schedule
Anticipated End Date: 2016-11-30
Roads Affected
Project Objective
In the next few months, JEA crews will be in the Ortega and Venetia neighborhoods to complete various electric projects that will help to increase the electric service reliability to your home or business. Residents may have already noticed a customer funded electric project along Ortega Boulevard (From Verona Avenue to near Corinthian Avenue) that includes installing underground conduit that will allow the existing overhead utilities to be placed underground. We anticipate this work to be completed by the end of Summer 2016.
As part of the current electric projects, JEA will be replacing some of the electric feeder lines that serve the Ortega and Venetia area. When completed, this work will increase the amperage capacity of the power lines, thereby reducing chances of overloading the circuit which can sometimes lead to unplanned power outages.
In other areas, JEA will be replacing any old or deteriorated power poles along the project route as well as installing new fiberglass cross-arms, brackets for insulators, fuses and transformers which will also provide for better power quality and reliability. These new facilities will protect against birds and squirrels which are often the cause of many unplanned blips and power outages. JEA will not be doing any work at the individual electric meter that serves your home or business.
The Ortega Electric Substation located at the corner of Verona Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard will also benefit from upgrades along with the electric facilities that exit the substation along Verona Avenue.
Learn more about JEA Electric Reliability Projects
Planned Power Outages
Customers may experience brief power outages as a result of this work. When working on your street, JEA crews may be required to temporarily shut off power to each individual home or business to switch each electric service over to the new power line. Customers will be notified prior to any prolonged (more than one hour) planned electric outage.
Construction Conditions
Residents can expect anywhere between 2-8 large utility trucks in the area depending on the work activity planned for that day. Power poles will be temporarily dropped off or staged in the public right of way portion of your yard until they can be installed. Certain poles may be moved back at least 4-feet from the curb, road, or sidewalk to conform to current JEA standards for road clearances. Most poles replaced will remain immediately adjacent to the existing pole.
Once poles have been placed in the ground, crews will then install the equipment on the poles followed by pulling the new electric wires between the new poles. JEA will leave the old power poles in place until AT&T and Comcast change their facilities over to the new poles. Once this work occur, JEA will return to remove the old poles.
JEA may require some detours and lane closures while this work is completed. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will sometimes be utilized to help direct traffic around the construction area. Any roads, curb, grass, driveway, sidewalk or sod unintentionally damaged during construction will be replaced at the end of the project.