City Crews Dig Out Last Utility Pole in Mission Hills Underground Project

"It’s been a huge improvement," one homeowner said of the project to remove overhead utility lines in Mission Hills

Homeowners joined San Diego city officials Thursday to celebrate the removal of the last pole stringing overhead utility lines in one Mission Hills neighborhood.

A crane removed the pole from the corner of Fort Stockton Drive and Witherby Street, in the community east of Interstate 5 and south of Interstate 8. 

City workers have been moving power lines underground in a six mile area northeast of downtown.

This Mission Hills neighborhood was part of a larger project called the Residential Project Block 2-E taking overhead utility wires and moving them underground.

Homeowners and other members of the community joined Councilmember Todd Gloria to celebrate the milestone.

β€œWe’re very very pleased to see all of Mission Hills without having to look through wires and poles,” said resident John Welter.

β€œI live on a spot where without all the cobwebs of wires across my street I now have a great view of the bay,” said homeowner Lou Watts.”It’s been a huge improvement.”

In addition, crews installed 110 new streetlights and nearly 200 pedestrian ramps.

The project will also plant 110 new trees in the neighborhood, city officials said.

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article implied it was the final utility pole in all of Mission Hills. The ceremony held Thursday was to mark the completion of the project in one neighborhood. We regret the error. 

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