BC Hydro Fraser River Transmission Infrastructure Update #14: Helicopter to help restring transmission lines across the river on Saturday
SURREY – BC Hydro will continue work for the restoration of the 230-kilovolt transmission line that crosses the Fraser River near the Port Mann Bridge. The entire restoration will have the transmission line re-energized by the end of November in preparation for the coldest months of the winter season when electricity demand is at its peak.
Last August, BC Hydro devised an innovative plan to install a high-tension, low-sag and significantly longer composite lines across the river. By using these specialized high-tension, low sag lines and stronger towers, the fallen tower will not require replacement as the new lines can be suspended over a longer span.
Starting Saturday, November 19, from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., a low flying helicopter will fly five industrial guide-ropes, one at a time, between the tower on the north side of the river to a tower on the south side. It will take approximately 30 minutes to fly each rope across from the north tower to the south tower.
Once the ropes are strung by helicopter, the transmission wires will be pulled across in the following days using a tension machine set up near the intersection of McBride Drive and King Road in Surrey. The tension machine will run during daylight hours for approximately one week.
The helicopter stringing operation can only take place during daylight hours when there is little wind and fog. This operation can be subject to change at any time including extending to subsequent days.
An animated recreation of the Fraser Tower restoration is available for viewing at www.bchydro.com/. To request a high-definition copy, please contact BC Hydro.
Editor’s note: Media access on site is limited and media planning to cover this story should contact BC Hydro media relations to discuss options. Marine access will also be controlled for safety reasons. BC Hydro will be collecting video footage and still photographs that will be made available to media in the following days at www.bchydro.com/. For more information, please call the BC Hydro Media Relations line at 604-928-6468.
Background
Two separate transmission lines cross the Fraser River near the Port Mann Bridge: a 230-kilovolt line and a 500-kilovolt line. On July 4, a transmission tower on the south side of the river carrying the 230-kilovolt line fell into the river after its foundation was compromised, likely due to accelerated erosion caused by high river levels.
The 500-kilovolt line has been fully repaired and was re-energized in August to meet the winter season demand for power. In the spring of 2012 BC Hydro will remove the existing tower (previously leaning tower) and rebuild the system using the same high-tension lines that are being used on the 230-kilovolt system.
For background and previous updates, please visit www.bchydro.com/.
For more information
BC Hydro Media Relations
p. 604-928-6468