PG&E plans to bury 16 miles of power lines in Mill Valley’s Highlands. This is part of a $45 million wildfire-prevention project focused on West Blithedale Avenue.
The work starts in 2027 and will probably stretch through most of the year. The main goal is to cut wildfire risk in Marin County by putting primary distribution lines underground.
Discover hand-picked hotels and vacation homes tailored for every traveler. Skip booking fees and secure your dream stay today with real-time availability!
Browse Accommodations Now
Residents from Mill Valley to Sausalito and beyond should see better reliability. Fewer outages and less fire risk sound like a win, but it’s a big job.
Mill Valley’s Highlands Project: Scope, Goals and Timeline
PG&E says this could reduce wildfire risk by about 98%. They also expect outages to drop by roughly 90%.
The project will bury primary electric lines along West Blithedale Avenue and other streets in the Mill Valley highlands. Local officials hope it sets an example for other Marin communities.
Project staff have already shown residents detailed engineering plans and maps. They’ve displayed images of equipment and the street-level transformer boxes slated for installation.
Construction means cutting narrow trenches in streets for conduits. Crews will place transformer boxes on cement pads, but telecommunications lines will stay up on poles.
New wires and breakaway connectors will run from poles to homes or connect to existing underground conduits on private property. It’s a patchwork approach, but maybe that’s what’s possible right now.
Engineering and Construction Details
The plan kicks off in 2027 and will take most of the year. Crews will move along a set route that starts near West Blithedale and winds through hillside neighborhoods.
Primary lines will go underground, but telecom lines mostly stay on poles. That means some services will be delivered overhead, some below, depending on the street.
PG&E wants to install street-level transformer boxes on cement pads. They’ll pull new underground conduits where they can, connecting to existing underground pathways when possible.
Field visits and coordination with homeowners will shape the final engineering plans. PG&E says they’re committed to public outreach—something Marin knows well from wildfire-prevention work in places like Larkspur and Corte Madera.
Community Outreach, Tree Management, and Coordination with Telecoms
PG&E managers talk a lot about outreach. They’re doing field visits and giving property owners advance notice when crews need access.
Still, not everyone’s thrilled. Some residents want PG&E to oversee contractors more closely, especially when it comes to tree removal in neighborhoods.
There’s also frustration over telecom companies. They’ve declined to coordinate with the city and PG&E to bury their cables, so those lines will stay on poles for now.
PG&E calls the Mill Valley project one of Marin County’s first of its kind. Site selection is based on state wildfire-risk rankings and a bigger regional effort to harden the grid from San Rafael to Sausalito.
Marin-Wide Significance: A Model for the Region
Mill Valley’s project is getting attention across Marin. Officials and residents from Tiburon to Fairfax are watching to see if undergrounding can scale up.
This effort reflects statewide wildfire-risk rankings. It’s a deliberate move toward resilience for communities like Novato, Ross, and the greater North Bay.
What Residents Should Know and How to Stay Informed
Property owners in the highlighted portions of Mill Valley should expect targeted notices before any access needs come up. PG&E and its contractors are working with city staff and county officials to try to keep disruptions to a minimum.
If you live in nearby towns like San Anselmo, Sausalito, or Mill Valley, this plan points to a bigger Marin County effort for safer summers and, hopefully, fewer outages.
- Key points: 16 miles of underground primary lines, $45 million investment, 2027 start date, 98% wildfire-risk reduction, 90% outage reduction.
- Construction will mean trenching for conduits and cement pads for transformers. Telecom lines will stay up on poles.
- New wires will run from poles to homes or to private underground conduits. Homeowners should look out for access notices and scheduling updates.
- Community oversight and tree management matter to local residents. PG&E, the city of Mill Valley, and Marin County agencies plan to keep the conversation going.
Here is the source article for this story: PG&E unveils major Mill Valley undergrounding project
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
Cities and Towns in Marin County
Things to Do in Marin County
Places to Stay in Marin County
