JEFFERSONVILE, IN (WAVE)- Things could look a lot different along a portion of 10th Street in Jefersonville in the coming years. That's if a multi-million dollar project, championed by the new mayor, continues as expected.
Mayor Mike Moore wants to widen about 1.6 miles of 10th Street. He also wants to take the power lines off their poles and bury them underground. Some bushiness owners and operators tell WAVE 3 they're on board with the project though not without some concern.
Jim McDonough's family has been washing cars at their Wash-O-Rama's 10th Street location for 44 years. Telephone poles and power lies were standing tall across the street.
"Of course, I stare at them all day long," said McDonough as he chuckled.
Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore wants to change that. As part of a $15 Million road widening project along 10th.
"I think it is important that if we can beautify it and do some long term thinking," said Moore.
Moore wants to bury the power lines from Dutch Lane...1.6 miles down the road...to Thompson Lane.
"We've got a lot of leaning telephone poles up and down 10th street," said Moore. "That have seen some severe weather. Ice storms, wind storms. You get those utilities under ground, you loose power a lot less often."
Which would mean fewer line repairs and taxpayer savings. But, it could still cost you up front.
It is just an estimate, but the mayor said to bury power lines like some found along 10th Street could cost tax payers in the range of $6 Million.
The potential price tag is a bit of shock to a business operator along 10th Street.
"I like the idea, but it seems kind of expensive for a 1.6 mile stretch, $6 Million to bury power lines," said Paul Fetter, General Manager of the Clark County Auto Auction located on 10th Street.
McDonough favors going underground
"I think it'd be a great idea. For the future, they've already be in the ground and everything would be out of the way. When the engineers start plotting what they're going to be doing in the future, that aspect will be already ready," said McDonough.
Fetter said "A good point is, what's it cost to move the power lines? What does it cost...What's the difference of the cost? That might make it easier to swallow if you knew it was a few million dollars difference."
WAVE 3 should note Moore does own property in an area along that route. He said he has no personal vested interest in the project.
"I don't really see where I have a vested interest. I mean, I'm mayor of Jeffersonville, so yeah, I've got a personal interest, but I don't own the business there anymore. Anybody that wants to say Mike's going to profit from this, it's not my business anymore. I've sold it," said Moore.
Moore said he has talked to several utilities, including Duke Energy and AT&T about burying the lines. He said the city is in the planning phase this year and construction could start in 2014. He said $11 Million is already set aside for the project. No decisions will be made for several months.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WAVE, a Raycom Media Station. 