PEPCO Utility Poles in Sidewalks

Brand new utility poles were placed in the sidewalk along Foxhall Road in Washington, DC. A new turn lane required moving the curb, sidewalk, and a row of utility poles. Rather than put the new poles in the grass behind the sidewalk, PEPCO blasted holes through the concrete of the new sidewalk so they could obstruct the sidewalk. This lack of respect for pedestrians is why utility poles continue to obstruct sidewalks, even when it would be just as easy to place the poles outside of the sidewalk. By John Z Wetmore, producer of “Perils For Pedestrians“.