California Aqueduct Reach 6 PG&E Utility Power Pole Replacement and Installation

California Aqueduct Reach 6 PG&E Utility Power Pole Replacement and Installation

PG&E needs to upgrade its power line with heavier gauge wire and requests encroachment permission to work in the Department of Water Resources (DWR) right of way (ROW) to replace six existing utility power poles (poles) with taller poles, to reconductor existing overhead electrical conductors (OVC), and to install three additional poles in the DWR ROW. The new poles are needed to support the new line and will be installed in an approximately 0.3-miles section along West Stutz Avenue (Figure 1). To complete the work, the OVC will be detached from the poles and then will be temporarily attached to a mechanical jumper so the power line will remain energized, and power service will continue during work. Once the OVC is removed, holes, approximately 46-inch in diameter and 10 feet deep, will be excavated next to the 6 existing poles and at the locations for the 3 new poles. All the poles installed will be made of wood and will be 20 feet taller than the existing poles were; once the poles are installed, the excavated areas will be backfilled and compacted. When all nine of the poles are in place, insulated “hot arms” will be installed on the 6 original poles. The OVC will be de-energized, disconnected from the mechanical jumper, and reconductored using 715 aluminum wire on the crossarms of the nine new poles. When the new OVC wire is in place, the hot arms will be removed, and a winch will be used to take out the 6 old poles. The removed poles will be loaded onto a trailer and will be disposed of offsite. The holes left after the poles are removed will be backfilled and compacted. Once all the poles are installed and the OVC is in place, it will be reenergized. All ground surfaces will be restored to preconstruction conditions, including repaving where necessary.

Fresno

Southern California