Getting a head start on two pole line projects to increase efficiency and avoid late fall tendering

Hespeler and West River Road Pole Line Rebuild

Cambridge North Dumfries Hydro Inc. (CNDHI) wanted to get a head start on 2015 capital work designs to avoid late fall tendering. With CNDHI having chosen two projects that consisted of nearly five kilometers of distribution redesign, we were selected to provide electrical and structural design, surveying and project management services.

The first project, the Hespeler Road, was an existing 8.32 kV pole line that needed to be changed for something more efficient. CNDHI was replacing the poles, and converting them to a single phase 16 kV operation with sufficient pole height and strength for a future 3 phase circuit—the total length of the line was about 2.5 kilometers. At the same time, we began the West River Road project. This was an existing single phase 4.8 kV line supplied by a 16 kV/4.8 kV step-down transformer. The length of this line was about 2.3 kilometers including takeoffs.

For these two projects, our scope included surveying actual property lines including cross sections, pertinent surface features such as driveways, buildings, fences, signs that might possibly impact line design and pole placement/replacement, and staking of final pole locations. Finally, we conducted site visits to identify poles, performed non-linear structural analysis, and prepared electrical drawings and relevant installation specifications for tender submission. The result? Two projects that will keep Ontario’s power on throughout the winter.