New lighting in Erie’s Union Square turned on
New decorative lamp poles went up in Erie’s Union Square months ago, but they’re just starting to light the night.
Penelec provided power to the system and Power Contracting Co., the Pittsburgh-area contractor working on the project, began to turn on the lights along State and West 12th streets this morning, said Jim Morris, a project engineer with the city.
Morris said he expected the rest of the 85 lights in the area to be turned by the end of today.
When a reporter on Monday inquired about why the lights had not yet been turned on, city officials said they were waiting for Penelec to install meters on four lighting cabinets that control the lights.
“It’s ready to go,” Morris said then.
The lighting — a mix of tall steel poles and shorter aluminum poles — was installed in October or November as part of a $3.35 million federally funded plan that also included new sidewalks, curbs and landscaping in the area from State to Sassafras streets between West 12th and West 14th streets.
Penelec spokesman Dan Heher said Monday he did not know the status of the Union Square project and could not comment on it if he did, citing confidentiality rules. Speaking generally, Heher said any project has to meet certain requirements before the utility turns power on, including passing an electrical inspection.
Read more in Wednesday’s Erie Times-News and on GoErie.com.
