💧 Water and Power · U.S. Virgin Islands
WAPA said first phase of composite pole installation was 98% complete as of July 9
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority said on July 9 that the first phase of its composite pole installation project was 98% complete across the territory.
WAPA said 8,494 composite poles had been installed territory-wide by that date. It said Water Island's composite pole project had been completed in 2023.
As of July 2024, WAPA said St. Croix had 3,940 poles set and 3,838 wires transferred, St. Thomas had 2,656 poles set and 2,589 wires transferred, and St. John had 1,711 poles set and 1,442 wires transferred. WAPA said Phase I was 96% complete on St. Croix, 100% complete on St. Thomas and 87% complete on St. John.
The authority said amendments for additional poles on St. John within the National Park were in progress pending an environmental assessment by the National Park Service.
WAPA also said it was seeking FEMA grant funding to replace 2,200 additional poles territory-wide in a second phase targeted for completion in 2026. The authority said its governing board had approved that plan.
The July 9 update also said scheduled outages on St. Croix were being used to allow crews to transfer wires and complete related work needed to connect the new composite poles to the existing system.