LUBBOCK, Texas -
It's the city's first official 'pole-pulling.'
As part of Lubbock's downtown revitalization.
The city is requiring all utility companies to remove any overhead lines to the underground duct system. The first alley west of the Wells Fargo parking lot is now cleared of overhead utilities.
"Any utilities that stand in the way of development, stand in the way of growth, stand in the way of putting super blocks together, plus the over grand utilities were such an eyesore in the city," said Central Business District TIF chairperson Robert Taylor.
District 5 City Council member Karen Gibson said it's important to have a thriving downtown in any city.
"In any thriving city if you don't have your downtown, which I consider it to be your heartbeat, you're not going to have a growing city."
This is phase three of the overall project, which is expected to be completed in 2017.