What’s up with those strange light poles going up around Kennewick?

Tri-City residents have noticed several large metal poles going up around Kennewick that include street lights.

One popped up recently across from Fire Station 5, at the corner of Kellogg Street and 10th Avenue. Another appeared near Highway 395 near the Benton PUD building.

But what are they, and what are they being used for?

Kennewick city administrators say these are new 5G poles being installed by wireless phone carrier UScellular.

“More of these will pop up as other carriers come in,” said Rohana Carmichael, Kennewick’s economic development manager. “UScellular has a franchise agreement to utilize city (right-of-ways) for these installations.”

This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM.

Eric Rosane

Tri-City Herald

509-380-9121

Eric Rosane is the Tri-City Herald’s Civic Accountability Reporter focused on Education and Local Government. Before coming to the Herald in February 2022, he worked at the Daily Chronicle in Lewis County covering schools, floods, fish, dams and the Legislature. He graduated from Central Washington University in 2018.  Support my work with a digital subscription