BC Hydro at work: Restoring Fraser River infrastructure
March 27: BC Hydro crews used a helicopter on Monday as part of their ongoing work on the 500-kilovolt transmission line crossing the Fraser River from Surrey to Coquitlam. Crews hope to complete work and energize the lines by early May.
In the summer of 2011, a transmission tower on the south side of the Fraser River, carrying 230-kilovolt lines, fell into the river after its foundation was compromised, likely due to accelerated erosion caused by high river levels. The erosion also affected the stability of the foundation of the neighbouring tower carrying 500-kilovolt lines.
Over the past two years, BC Hydro has restored and stabilized the transmission lines and towers and the work is nearing completion. To further increase safety and reliability, BC Hydro has used new, stronger and taller towers for both the 230-kilovolt and 500-kilovolt lines, eliminating the need for towers at the edge of the river.
