Big mechanical birds fluttered over the skies of Innisfail and area this month to deliver a massive multi-ton payload of new steel transmission towers.
The specialized helicopters were handing over the steel structures, each weighing between 6,300 and 9,000 pounds, to construction crews who are installing power line infrastructure for AltaLink's $1.65 billion Western Alberta Transmission line project.
This month's work on the project is part of a two-year project – approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in Dec. 2012 – that will see a 350-kilometre 500 kV line built, with 950 transmission towers, between the Genesee area west of Edmonton to the Langdon area east of Calgary.
Amber Kalyn, senior communications advisor for AltaLink, said about 50 structures were flown in over a three-day period between the Eckville and Gleniffer Lake areas.
“We usually do this work in stages because it requires the use of a very specialized helicopter. Each structure is assembled in two pieces,” said Kalyn. “If weather and other conditions cooperate, the helicopter can move 30 structure pieces per day or 15 full structures. We usually aim to complete about 50 structures per stage. The next helicopter structure lifts are planned for June.”
She said crews are now stringing structures south of Innisfail. In June, the structures will be strung with wire from Eckville to the Innisfail area, she said.
Construction for the entire project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2015. Service for the public from the new transmission line will be ready at that time.
