Transformer replacement briefly knocks out Houlton traffic light

HOULTON, Maine -- September 22, 2020 -- Houlton Patrolman Charlie Heath directs traffic at the intersection of Court and Military streets Tuesday morning after power to the traffic lights was interrupted. The outage lasted about an hour. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)

HOULTON, Maine — One of Houlton’s busiest intersections was without power early Tuesday morning as a transformer was being replaced.

Greg Sherman, general manager of Houlton Water Company, said the outage was caused by a planned transformer replacement project near the Military Street Laundromat.

“The transformer located there was too small to accomodate the needs of [the recently relocated] Pioneer Broadband company and the laundromat,” Sherman explained. 

At the time of the replacement, the utility company was not aware that the transformer would impact the traffic light. Sherman credited the quick action of the Houlton Police Department for helping with the situation by having a patrolman, Charlie Heath, direct traffic while the work was being done. 

The power was restored around 9 a.m., a little more than an hour from the time it went out.