SNOHOMISH — The buzz of construction helicopters is expected near Ebey Slough this spring and summer as utility crews upgrade a two-mile stretch of crumbling wooden power poles that are a key part of Western Washington’s power grid.
Puget Sound Energy plans a $14 million to $15 million construction project to replace the old supports for the power lines. Crews plan to use helicopters to place new steel poles and concrete foundations and also drape power lines on the new structures.
The poles originally were built on dry farmland dating back to 1924, but rising waters in the Ebey Slough estuary and wetland means more water is in the area, PSE spokeswoman Gretchen Aliabadi said.
“They’re in standing water a lot,” she said. “It’s not dry farmland anymore.”
Marsh buggies will be used to travel the sensitive wetland terrain.
Puget Sound Energy plans to replace 86 wooden poles with 15 steel poles locked in concrete foundations.
The new poles will be up to 130 feet tall, which is taller than the existing 80- and 90-foot poles.
Controversy broke out a few years ago when one of the proposed routes for the transmission line came too near homes along the ridge south of Ebey Slough.
The route later was scratched and the power lines will mostly hug the same path as they are today.
James Berg, president of Friends of Ebey View, told the County Council that neighbors south of the transmission lines support the proposal.
“The community is very happy with the process and progress,” Berg told the council.
The County Council approved the construction plans last week.
The lines carry electricity to Whatcom and Skagit counties, and serve as a back-up line for Snohomish County, Seattle and King County.
The power lines were basically all that kept Skagit County and the oil refineries up and running during the Hanukkah Eve storm Dec. 14 and 15, 2006, said Dom Amor, local government and community relations manager for Puget Sound Energy.
“This particular line runs through the Ebey Slough basin and is a very critical line to the region,” Amor said.
Work is expected to be completed by September, Aliabadi said.
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
Power line project information
Puget Sound Energy has details about its transmission line project at www.pse.com. Under the “community” tab, go to “in your neighborhood” and look under “major construction” and click on “Ebey Slough.”
Or go directly to www.pse.com/community/yourneighborhood/ Pages/ebeySlough.aspx
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