By Samantha Mellman
On Palmetto Park Rd., just west of Boca Raton Blvd. a traffic sign states, “New Traffic Patterns, Starts 3/5”. It has been placed to inform citizens from 9:00PM-6:00AM the west bound lanes will be closed.
Bill Orlove, spokesman for FPL stated, “Five poles will be removed and replaced on the south side of Palmetto Park Rd., the routine maintenance should be complete by the 12th.
For 2 or 3 nights FPL trucks will occupy the closed west bound lane between 4th and 5th Avenues, according to Mike Woika, Assistant City Manager.
Woika said, “Driver’s safety was important in scheduling the times FPL will be working on the electric poles aligning the street. The eastbound lanes will serve as both east and west directions during the westbound lane closure.”
Similar modifications were
done in the same area on the east side of Palmetto Park Rd. 2 weeks ago, but no lane closures were necessary.
“Since the lane changes are set late at night we do not expect there to be problems with traffic, but the sign informs citizens and residents to be aware of the change,” said Woika.
John Reilly, a transportation analyst for Boca Raton said, “FPL will be removing and replacing electric poles in compliance with a federal organization the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”
Woika said that the changes to the poles are not a city requirement but one that is implemented by FPL.
Next Tuesday, FPL will work through the nights to update the electric poles to their functioning capacity.