Navigating Challenging Terrain and Increasing Power Performance on a Transmission Line Rebuild
To increase electricity reliability for PPL Electric Utilities, I.B. Abel’s experienced transmission crews installed an 8.5-mile double-circuit steel monopole transmission line safely and ahead of schedule. From Slatington to Allentown, PA, this project entailed many logistical and environmental challenges that required creative electrical engineering strategies and a focus on risk mitigation. Staying committed to quality and safety every inch of the way, crews worked diligently on the 8.5 mile transmission line which crossed over the Lehigh River, PA Turnpike and multiple high-traffic highways, Norfolk Southern Railroad, multiple distribution crossings, and over the popular Delaware and Lehigh Valley Trails.
At the start of this project, I.B. Abel’s Utility Services team removed a quad-circuit that consisted of wood and steel monopoles and lattice towers. Brand new steel monopoles were then installed on combinations of foundations and direct embeds, and new dual-circuit parakeet conductors and dual optical group wire (OPGW) were connected. Combining high-performance power and high-quality service with an electrical design that provides high capacity and reliable fiber optic communication lines was key for our team to deliver excellence throughout every phase of this C-13 utility transmission rebuild project.
