Construction Update

With construction season in full swing, the linemen at West River Electric will soon begin another reconstruction project along Highway 34. is project will replace some aging single-phase overhead infrastructure. e location of the next build will begin at the intersection of Highway 34 and Nine Mile Road, then head east for two miles, finishing at the intersection of Highway 34 and 137th place.

e overhead line construction will generally be located in the same route as the existing line. e old design saw distances between poles of over 300’. e new design typically sees distances around the 250’ range between poles. We have elected to increase the pole class or “size” from the typical class 6 pole, which is currently present, to a more robust class 4 pole. e reduction in the distance between the poles and the larger pole class dramatically increases the strength of the line, which is needed during extreme weather events.

We have also elected to install what has become our standard overhead conductor (wire). is type of T2 conductor is a pair of wires twisted together. Installing this type of wire allows more members to be connected to the line due to the larger conductor size. e most significant advantage of using this conductor is its ability to shed ice loading during winter storms. West River Electric has used this type of wire for an extended period of time and has had great success with its durability thus far. Using larger pole sizes with substantially shorter span lengths and T2 conductor will significantly increase the resiliency of our system.

While this project is classified as a total rebuild of the existing infrastructure, the overall appearance of the line will remain very similar to what’s currently in use. e new line will have two wires, only larger than previously used, and the pole framing will be similar to what you typically see. is infrastructure rebuild will aid in restoration efforts during outages and allow for more switching options in the future as we continue to see growth in the area. 8051000

Once this project is underway, West River Electric’s line crews will work alongside the right of way. In some areas, access for the rebuild will only be from the Highway side of the line. If you happen to be in the vicinity of this project and come across the line crews working, please be mindful of the activities that are present and reduce your speed through the construction area.