Recently AltaLink completed construction of the transmission line portion of the project, an important milestone that includes 950 new structures and approximately 3,500 kilometres of transmission line wire. Construction activities began in early 2013 and it was expected that construction would be complete and the new facilities would be energized and connected to Alberta’s electric grid in late spring or early summer of 2015, which has now finished.
The new 500 kV transmission line is 350 kilometres in length and connects the Genesee area west of Edmonton to the Langdon area east of Chestermere. Also included in the project, are two new substations in the Langdon area and a new substation in the Genesee area. AltaLink are continuing work at the substations until late spring or early summer of 2015 – once complete the new transmission line and substations will be energized and connected to Alberta’s electric grid. They will also be continuing reclamation activities along the transmission line route, once weather permits.
Construction of the 350 kilometre transmission line required a large workforce and significant materials and equipment, including approximately: 600 to 700 employees and contractors working each day on the construction of the line. Up to 1,200 people were working during peak construction. 20,000 tonnes of steel used to construct 950 structures – that’s equivalent to the steel used in 8,700 cars. The majority of structures were assembled in designated yards off of the right-of-way. Specialized helicopters were then used to lift, move and erect sections of the structures. Using helicopters significantly reduces the amount of construction traffic and corresponding environmental impacts on the right-of-way. 3,500 kilometres of transmission line wire – this double arm transmission line, with a bundle of four wires attached to each arm, required enough wire to stretch from Vancouver to a little past Toronto.
The project also includes two new substations in the Langdon area, one of which is already completed, and a new substation in the Genesee area. Construction will continue at the substations until late spring or early summer 2015. Substations are the connection points between power lines of varying voltages and contain equipment that controls and protects the flow of power. Throughout the construction process, our Right-of-Way Coordinators have worked with the landowners who host these facilities on their property. During the spring, or when weather conditions permit, we will be continuing our reclamation activities along the right-of-way to return the land to its pre-construction state as much as possible. Once the substation construction is complete, the new facilities will be energized and connected to Alberta’s electric grid.
Public consultation began in winter 2010 and included more than 4,500 discussions with stakeholders. The Facilities Application for this project was filed with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for review in March 2011. The AUC approved the project in December 2012. For more information please contact Amber Kalyn at 403-510-6308 or amber.kalyn@altalink.ca
