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Underground utilities project on west end of Balboa Island progresses

Underground utility crew completes patches over trenches in a narrow alley along the North Bayfront of Balboa Island.
Underground utility crew completes patches over trenches in a narrow alley along the North Bayfront of Balboa Island last week.
(Susan Hoffman)
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Balboa Island resident Lee Pearl says he’s actually looking forward to the day his alley is shut down for two or three weeks while a project to place utilities underground takes place, because the aesthetics in his neighborhood will improve once the work is complete.

Pearl has been an active supporter of the project and feels most local residents understand it’s a short-term inconvenience for a long-term gain.

“It’s most gratifying that all those [utility] poles are going away,” said Pearl. “The first thing people see when coming to the island is all those electrical wires and now all the ugliness will go away with this project.

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“With poles away, fiber optic cable can be installed,” he said, noting the improvements will not only beautify the island, but provide better access for residents trying to get into their garages and for delivery trucks to pass through.

More than 60% of the affected 215 property owners expressed interest in the project, so the matter of forming the assessment district was put to a vote and succeeded. The Newport Beach City Council then approved the $6.2-million west end Balboa Island underground utilities project, an assessment district that encompasses the area between Agate Avenue and Collins Island.

The average assessment for the west end undergrounding is approximately $30,000 per parcel if paid by the property owner in cash, or $33,600 if collected over a period of 20 years via the owner’s property tax bill.

The Balboa Island underground utility process originally began on Little Balboa Island just over 20 years ago at a cost of around $8,000. In 2009, a proposal to move forward with relocating the utilities on the entire big island was made by property owners. At that time, the average cost was expected to be $16,700. However, without sufficient votes in favor of the program, that measure failed.

Work on the current project broke ground last September and is now in full swing. The process requires the removal of all of the existing overhead utilities including electric, cable television and telephone poles and wires, and placing the wires in underground conduit. According to the city, this involves trenching, laying conduit lines in the trenches, installing new utility vaults, backfilling, repaving the street and removing the overhead poles and wires in the public right-of-way.

Balboa Island underground utility crew fill trenches on Agate Avenue on Tuesday.
Balboa Island underground utility crew fill trenches on Agate Avenue on Tuesday in front of ferry, which is temporarily closed for cars as part of the west end underground utility project.
(Susan Hoffman)

The private conversion portion — connecting from the main service conduit to the private property — is the property owners’ responsibility. This work includes trenching, backfilling, installing conduit, conductors and conversion panels. This work can range in cost from about $1,000 to $4,000 per property.

According to Assistant City Engineer Michael Sinacori, the initial conduit and vault installation is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day, with final restoration, including alley reconstruction, to be scheduled after every home is hooked up. The entire project is expected to be finished sometime in 2024.

“We’re having a heck of a time with intermittent rain storms,” said Sinacori. “We’re working Saturdays for the next month or so, so that we can catch up. Other than rain delay, it’s a difficult construction because of ground water and tight working conditions in the alley.”

Sinacori said he visits the job sites almost daily, reviewing the operations and making sure the public is not being impacted too greatly.

“One of my old supervisors told me….’Mike, you can build whatever you want as long as you keep traffic moving,’ a motto I have lived by for about 30 years here at Newport,” said Sinacori. “We need to make sure the pedestrians, bikers and cars all are accommodated during our operations. If they can’t be, then make sure everyone knows about it. Thus our outreach for the ferry closure to cars, no way around that, and we will work to get that done as soon as we can.”

Sinacori said he hopes to beat the schedule by a week or so. He said residents have been wonderful with their understanding of the issue and the need to get it done, in spite of the mess.

West end resident on the South Bayfront, Sally Hackley, said she’s decided it’s worth the hassle and has vowed not to complain while the work is underway.

Construction materials and safety ramp encroach on the pedestrian walkway along Balboa Island's South Bayfront.
Construction materials and safety ramp encroach on the pedestrian walkway along Balboa Island’s South Bayfront during the underground utility project.
(Susan Hoffman)

“We’re excited about the underground [project] and wished it had been done five years ago,” said Hackley. “Anyway it’s getting done and it’s going to be a hassle, it is a hassle right now but is going to be beautiful when it’s done.”

The assessment district for the remaining 966 properties on the big island was approved July 2021 and is slated to begin its $32.7-million underground utility construction in August 2023, with a targeted completion date of 2027. The estimated average assessment cost there will be $35,000, according to Sinacori.

The city of Newport Beach Public Works Department oversees the project. Detailed information can be found on the city’s website at newportbeachca.gov/ADstatus.

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