W3408 Rebuild to 563 Nelson

Location: Nelson, Wisconsin

Areas of Expertise: Transmission

The steep, wooded bluffs along the Mississippi River Valley near Nelson, Wisconsin, offer gorgeous views, abundant wildlife, and plenty of recreational opportunities. Hooper’s Electric Power Division (EPD) is partnering with Xcel Energy to rebuild 6.6 miles of a 69kV Transmission Line in the area. While views of this area are stunning, the terrain is extremely challenging for our team to navigate with limited to no road access.

The project scope includes replacing 50 H-frame structures and installing 6.6 miles of three-phase conductor and two shield wires. One of the shield wires will be replaced with Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), specially designed to carry both electrical power and optical signals that will enhance the efficiency and reliability of the power system. Several pole structures on this line were originally installed in the 1940s and are well past their expected life.

Due to the elevation of the bluffs, which in some locations rise to 1,200 feet, and limited vehicle access, Hooper’s EPD team developed innovative solutions to complete the work. As the line drops down toward the Mississippi River, the terrain is especially steep and challenging. With no nearby roads, and the cost and environmental concerns associated with reaching these transmission poles, Hooper employed two helicopters to assist with removing old structures and installing the new H-frames. Additionally, our crew hand-dug many holes for the new structures because of the difficult access that limited the use of standard equipment.

Hooper’s ingenuity and experience provided Xcel Energy with solutions to complete this difficult project. Hooper’s helicopter-assisted construction plan and digging holes for structure placement saved over a million dollars in access development and foundation building costs.