Undergrounding

Replacing overhead electrical power lines with underground lines helps improve the safety and reliability of the power grid in Alameda.

Removing overhead utility lines is one of the most noticeable improvements a neighborhood can make. Wires, poles, and other equipment can obscure the beautiful scenery of our island community.

The city of Alameda has had an underground utility program since 1984 and approximately half of the city’s overhead wires have been moved underground.

Current Undergrounding Projects

Otis/Broadway District

The City Council approved the Otis/Broadway Underground Utility District (UUD #38) at its February 19, 2019, meeting. The district boundaries are along Otis Drive from High Street to Broadway Street including streets south of Otis Drive (i.e. Pearl Street, Versailles Avenue, Mound Street, and Court Street) and along Broadway Street from La Jolla to Encinal Avenue.

This project will remove all overhead lines and utility poles within the project boundaries. The project will be completed in multiple stages and in a phased timeline:

  1. Joint Trench construction. Includes installation of the main trench, conduit, and service boxes primarily located within the sidewalk area.
  2. Service lateral construction. Conduit will be installed underground from the back of the sidewalk and stubbed up near the existing service connection at the residence.
  3. Cable and equipment installation. Each utility will install their necessary cable and equipment and system will be energized.
  4. Electric meter panel conversion. Service connections on each house will be converted from being fed from overhead to underground.
  5. Removal of overhead wires and poles. When all services have been cutover to the new underground system the old overhead wires and poles can be removed.

Project Updates

Construction began June 2024 and will include the areas of the utility pole lines along Broadway starting at Encinal Avenue towards Otis Drive, then east on Otis Drive and ending on High Street. AMP is working with contractor Smith Dension to construct the underground infrastructure.

UPDATE 9/17/25: Substructure construction along Otis Drive is complete and substructure construction along Broadway has begun.
Substructure construction completion date: JULY 2026.  
mapAfter completion of the substructure (infrastructure trenching and roadway construction) there are additional tasks before the undergrounding project is 100% complete:
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  • Each utility (AMP, AT&T, Comcast) will install their cable and equipment
  • Once their systems are energized, each utility will cutover services from overhead to underground
  • After all services are cutover, the poles will be removed
Tasks will be completed in phased sections to minimize short-term disruptions.

Milestones

    • Construction Contract Awarded – December 12, 2023
    • Collect Permit-To-Enter forms from Property Owners– January 2024 – February 2024
      • Notice sent to property owners Jan 31, 2024 
      • Fillable Permit-To-Enter Form can be downloaded here
    • UUD38 Project Virtual Town Hall Meeting– A Virtual Town Hall meeting was held February 2024.  
    • Construction of Joint Trench and Service Laterals (substructure) – Beginning June 2024 and lasting until approximately July 2026.
    • Post Substructure Construction (phased) – 2026 - 2027
      • Cable and equipment installation
      • Cutover of customer services
      • Removal of overhead facilities and poles 

Project Map

UUD38 map overview

Past meetings

Email List

If you would like to be added to the UUD38 Project email list, please click here

Future Undergrounding Projects

Within the next year, AMP plans to recommend that the City Council approve additional undergrounding projects from the list of recommendations received from the district nominating board (DNB). (The DNB, made up of four members of the public and one member of the Public Works Department, had previously reviewed potential areas for undergrounding.) This list includes the following areas:

  • Webster Street - all crossings - Central Avenue to Pacific Avenue including Eagle Avenue - West of Constitution Way; and along Central Avenue from Eighth Street to Webster Street.
  • Broadway - Buena Vista Ave to Clement Ave
  • Fernside Boulevard from Encinal Avenue to High Street, including lines on Lincoln Park access road
  • Park Street - San Jose Avenue to Otis Drive

More Information