Accelerated High Speed Internet Program

Numerous Make-Ready pole replacements are planned for communication companies, mainly in the rural areas of the city.  These projects accommodate the government initiative to have high-speed internet access to every home.  These poles are replaced as needed; therefore, complete lines may be reconstructed or only a few poles in a line.  This work has started and will be ongoing during the year.

A ”Make-Ready” project is a project that is undertaken by North Bay Hydro to modify the existing pole infrastructure and conductors and “make them ready” for communication companies to attach their assets.  This could include moving up the hydro lines to make more room on existing poles if the poles are tall enough and in good condition or might require the installation of new poles.  The assets are typically communication cables and/or boxes.

Tower Drive Overhead Line Rebuild Phase 2 – Spring 2025

Project is the second of 3 phases to reconstruct the overhead line on Tower Drive.  Phase 1 was completed in 2024 and the third phase is scheduled for 2026.  Phase 2 includes the installation of 34 composite poles and 12 wood poles.

Aberdeen Avenue Overhead Line Rebuild – Summer/Fall 2025

Project includes the replacement of 45 wood poles along Aberdeen Avenue.

O’Brien Overhead Line Rebuild – Fall 2025

Project includes the installation of 13 composite and wood poles for a 44kV sub-transmission line.

Seymour Street Line Relocation – Spring 2025

Project includes the relocation of 5 poles to accommodate City of North Bay street improvements.

Blair Street Underground Primary Replacement – Lovell Avenue to Marshall Park Drive – Summer/Fall 2025

Project includes the reconstruction of directly buried underground cables, including 340m of primary cables. This is the third section of a multi-part project to reconstruct underground infrastructure in the area. The new cables will be installed in ducts to provide safer and more resilient infrastructure.

Gordon Eugene Granite Overhead Line Rebuild – Fall 2025

Project includes the replacement of 30 wood poles in the Graniteville area.

Line Extension for the North Bay Community & Recreation Centre – Fall 2025 – Winter 2026

Project includes the extension of a 44kV overhead line on Booth Road from Ferris Drive to Lakeshore Drive to provide power to the new Community and Recreation Centre.