I had had several people tell me they thought they were something to do with TVA subcontractors. One reader sent me a contact number/email for TVA subcontracts department. I emailed them and within an hour I had a call from Stephen Williams with TVA.

He explained the signs, or “possum boards” as they call them, are markers to direct subcontractors to certain TVA lines and poles that were to be serviced. Mr. Williams also sent me an email

Mr. Shaver,

Per our conversation, those are TVA “possum boards”.  When we have a project to work on a transmission line, those signs alert the crews where to access certain transmission structures they will be working on.  They will be taken down once the project is complete; probably in the next month or so.

Thanks

Stephen Williams
Program Manager
Transmission – Right of Way

Seems odd to me that in this age of smart phones, GPS and electronic maps, anyone still uses plastic signs on sticks to give directions but I guess it is what it is.

I appreciate Mr. Williams for replying to my question about the signs.

Now we know.