How many Airmen does it take? Published March 5, 2010 By Senior Airman Alexandra M. Longfellow 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- How many Barksdale Airmen does it take to replace a utility pole on base? Four Airmen from the 2d Civil Engineer Squadron will replace 29 old utility poles basewide. During replacement, power outages can be expected in several locations for up to eight hours throughout the next few months. Three utility poles have already been replaced. The first facility outage was March 3 and outages are scheduled to last through the middle of June. "If the poles are not replaced and they fail, meaning they break or fall, then the power outages will last much longer and could affect larger areas," said Robert Gardner, 2d CES electric shop foreman. Utility poles usually last 15 to 20 years, unless damaged by wood peckers or rotting wood. It takes time to remove all of the overhead wiring and associated hardware, install new hardware and reconnect the wiring. "Our crews have to isolate the circuit on the pole being replaced," said Master Sgt. James Justice, 2d CES electrical systems. "Once the circuit is isolated and grounded, crews can safely begin their work without the risk of electrocution." To replace a pole, all of the existing wiring that carries up to 12,740 volts, cross-arms that support the wires, transformers, streetlight fixtures and hardware must be removed and replaced once the new pole is set in place. Facility managers will be notified at least ten days in advance if their facility will be affected. Anyone who experiences a power outage and is unsure if it is warranted, call the 2d CES customer service at 456-5613.