NEWS FROM WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2009
CONTACT: Randy Wilkerson, 720-962-7056, wilkerson@wapa.gov
TRANSMISSION LINE REMOVAL NEAR SILVERTHORNE BEGINS SEPT. 14
LAKEWOOD, Colo. —Beginning Sept. 14, about 8.5 miles of electric transmission line north of Silverthorne will be removed. Crews from Western Area Power Administration will start by removing the old conductor and cutting off the old, wood H-frame structures. Then, beginning Sept. 21, Western crews will use a helicopter to remove the old poles. The demolition and removal project is expected to last two weeks.
The old transmission line roughly parallels Highway 9 north of Silverthorne. Residents and travelers in the area should be alert for increased activity. Travelers on Highway 9 may occasionally experience short delays as traffic is stopped for removal of overhead power lines and to allow helicopters carrying loads to fly over the highway safely.
The transmission line, constructed about 70 years ago, originally extended from Blue River Substation, north of Silverthorne, to Summit Substation, in Frisco. The line has been de-energized for many years. The portion of the line from Frisco to Silverthorne was removed almost 10 years ago. The remaining segment was left in place as a contingency that is no longer needed.
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Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of clean, renewable power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy.
Serving the West with Federal hydropower
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