Three utility poles sheared in Guilderland

GUILDERLAND — Within two days, three utility poles were sheared in Guilderland, closing roads to traffic while repairs were made by National Grid.

On Sunday morning at 6:07 a.m., Guilderland Police received a call that a pole was sheared on Westfall Road between Sumac Ridge Lane and Cullen Road, according to Deputy Chief Curtis Cox.

Cox called it a “hit and run.” He said that the pole was located across from 662 Westfall Rd. “There’s evidence it was struck by a car,” he said.

Police were still investigating on Wednesday, Cox said, and anyone with information on the collision should call the department at (518) 356-1501.

Two more poles were sheared, again before dawn, the next day. This time, Curry Road was closed to traffic between Ryan Place and the Wildwood School at 2995 Curry Rd.

“We got the call at 3:40,” said Cox, calling it “storm-related.”

He went on, “There was a tree down on the wires … If a tree falls on the wires between two poles, it puts stress on both of them.”

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

 

More Guilderland News

  • The Guilderland Zoning Board on June 4 approved the special-use permit application of Kent Hansen to turn the former seminary and recovery center at 1180 Berne-Altamont Road into the Inns of Altamont.  

  • Since the pandemic, the town planner notes, there has been less demand for office space, and both requests for zoning changes are spurred by the applicants’ need for tenants.

  • Costco, via project developer Pyramid Management Group, is seeking an area variance for five signs over 250 square feet each when town code allows for two signs with a total area of 50 square feet.

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