Towering above the rest
 Tacoma Power's
$15.8 million project to replace the towers and
power lines that cross the Narrows waterway its
nearing completion. Walk near the
site or drive across the Narrows bridge and you'll see the new towers
installed in the 3rd quarter of 2006.
The construction team is
now completing the removal of the four old
towers, leaving in their place two new towers that will hopefully last
another 80 years.
See what's happening this week.
New!
Check out the construction photo gallery.
Contractor brings international experience to Tacoma
Before Tacoma Power built the world’s longest electrical span in 1926,
many people said it couldn’t be done. Even today, the project presents
many engineering and construction challenges. Tacoma Power hired
Shaw Energy Delivery Services
to take on these challenges. Shaw has completed electrical transmission
and distribution projects all over the world.
The
importance of the towers
In addition to transmitting power from the Cushman Hydroelectric
Project to Tacoma, the Narrows Crossing serves as the
"lifeline" for providing power to Peninsula Light Company in Gig Harbor.
BPA wheels power through Tacoma Power's system and
sells it to Peninsula Light.
About the new towers
This project included replacing the four existing 325-foot towers with
two 450-foot towers. Shaw built the new towers in the space
between the existing ones, and then removed the 80-year old towers. See comparison pictures.
The project is a joint effort between
Tacoma Power and Bonneville Power Administration.
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