Pacific Beach Town Council recently was briefed by a City engineer on two streetlight projects that could begin later this year to replace century-old streetlights – and problematic Christmas lighting – in the beach community.
Senior City civil engineer Dayue Zhang gave a slideshow presentation to PB Town Council members detailing a proposed existing streetlight upgrade, and new standard streetlight installations, in Crown Point and central PB. He said improvements will replace 159 antiquated streetlights in those areas, as well as update old-style, Christmas-light circuitry known to blackout entire blocks when even a single light fails.
“As part of a utilities undergrounding project, the Engineering and Capital Projects Department will undertake streetlight upgrade work in affected neighborhoods,” Zhang said. “Block 2BB in Crown Point will be upgrading existing streetlights and installing new City-standard streetlights.”
The City engineer pointed out existing antiquated post-top streetlights are losing their structural strength and integrity due to age, noting they are confirmed to contain lead paint. He added existing lights are also inconsistent and appear damaged.
“We will replace the post-top streetlights with new similar and uniform post-top type lighting with LED luminaire around the Crown Point peninsula,” Zhang said adding they will be replaced with new City-standard Cobra-head streetlights (above). He pointed out replacement streetlights will not yellow over time when exposed to sunlight.
Regarding existing Christmas light circuitry, Zhang said the high-voltage series circuit system has outlived its usefulness, being 69 years old and having been installed in 1954. “The series circuit that powers the lights is being replaced to prevent neighborhood-wide outages every time a single light malfunctions,” he noted. “We will replace 125 existing decorative streetlights and upgrade the system with low-voltage circuits. The new design will have six to eight lights per circuit.”
Zhang cautioned that Christmas light replacement must be done carefully because “you cannot disturb existing circuits or else existing lights will go out.” He noted proposed new decorative light poles will be a close match to existing ones and that adding new lights will retain the acorn-style of existing lights to preserve community character.
The City is about 60% done with its design for the PB streetlight replacement project. Zhang said the City is awaiting additional data from survey crews before it can complete the design. Once that survey data has been received, he added it will take approximately eight months to complete the design and advertise a construction contract. He said it is hoped construction on the PB streetlight replacement project could begin as soon as this September.
PBTC president Charlie Nieto said the group appreciated the City’s input on renovation projects proposed in Crown Point and on Fanuel Street. “It gave the community a general sense of assurance and trust that our community infrastructure, public safety, and historical integrity were all being taken into account by our City engineers,” he said. “The engineering department came to our community in good faith and full openness to share their plans. Plans clearly showed that the new lamps will be true to the original antique design, as well as technologically more reliable for future repairs and maintenance.”
Added Nieto: “We have heard the positive impression from many neighbors and fellow residents that the presenters were very thorough and clearly dedicated to these improvement projects. I personally see this as a progressive step for community trust in our City. I hope that all of our officials will take note and likewise continue a path of transparency.”
PHOTO COURTESY: CITY OF SAN DIEGO
