MAYOR OF Mandeville, Horace Williams, has joined several residents of the parish in expressing concern about the use of concrete poles by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) to support high voltage electricity wires.
Residents first aired their concern during the construction of the Melrose Hill bypass road extending from Porus to Williamsfield that came into service earlier this year.
Several of the poles were seen on the side of the new highway broken in several places which raised questions about their suitability as support for high tension wires replacing the traditional wooden poles.
The concrete poles first came into limited use in the late 1980s and have proven to be stronger and more cost effective, according to JPSCo project manager, Jeff Bonnick.
Mr. Bonnick told The Gleaner that after careful research and rigorous testing the company decided to phase in the concrete poles which he said will significantly reduce the company's maintenance costs.
He also said the life span of a concrete pole is 50 to 100 years while the average wooden pole has 25.
The company decided to switch to concrete poles having found that the life of the wooden poles it was importing had been reduced to 10 years.
Mr. Bonnick said that as far as the suitability of the poles for use in Jamaica was concerned, the poles have met the standard and were the only ones not damaged during Hurricane Gilbert of 1988.
Responding to Mayor Williams concern, Mr. Bonnick said that the poles pose little danger to motorists as they are designed to withstand impacts from heavy vehicles and to cushion the blow by 'giving a little' and then reverting to their original form.
He said the other added benefits are that the poles are manufactured in Jamaica using Jamaican materials and there is a possibility of their being exported to other countries in the region, thereby earning foreign exchange.
