(KLZA)-- The project to place electric infrastructure underground in downtown Falls City is making steady progress and cutovers have begun.

Falls City Public Works Director Trevor Campbell reports that contractor, Watts Electric will be contacting each affected customer to schedule a temporary outage in order to cut over their electric service from the existing overhead lines to the newly installed underground system.

Once the service has been transferred underground, the overhead electric lines to the businesses will be removed.

The project is divided into four phases. If your property is adjacent to an alley within one of the four phases, you will be affected by the cutover process. A map of the project is posted with this story at mscnews.net.

Phase 1 of the cutovers began the week of October 27 and are expected to continue for approximately three weeks. After Phase 1 is completed, Phase 2 will begin. Phases 3 and 4 will follow later in the project.

Watts Electric anticipates the length of the outages will be 1 - 5 hours, varying depending on the complexity of your particular service connection.

Once Phase I and Phase 2 cutovers are complete, demolition of the overhead electric wires and poles will begin for those phases. The work is weather dependent but may begin as early as January, 2026. Phases 3 and 4 will be removed after their corresponding cutovers are completed.

The anticipated completion date for the downtown underground project is Spring of 2026.

Falls City Utilities appreciates everyone's patience and cooperation as efforts to improve the reliability and appearance of Falls City's downtown electric system continues.

Campbell did note that Spectrum TV cable will not be removed by Watts Electric. A Spectrum contractor will handle all cable cutovers separately and will be coordinated by Spectrum.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Falls City Utility Office at 402-245-2851.