MidAmerican Energy planning transmission maintenance in QCs

If you see a helicopter hovering over parts of the Quad Cities over the next few weeks, it’s just MidAmerican Energy performing maintenance on several transmission system projects. Transmission lines are the larger, high-voltage lines, while distribution lines are generally lower voltage lines that connect to local customers.

Over the next few weeks, crews will work on four separate transmission system projects, including:

• Replacement of Overhead Transmission Lines and Power Line Markers over the Mississippi River at Campbell’s Island from Riverdale to East Moline, expected to begin January 20. This project will replace the overhead transmission lines across the Mississippi River at Campbell’s Island, between Riverdale and East Moline. A contract aerial line crew in a helicopter will replace the transmission lines and red marker balls that warn pilots about the power lines. The project was originally scheduled just over a year ago but was rescheduled before it began.

• Power Line Marker Replacements over the Mississippi River near I-74 from Davenport-Rock Island Arsenal, expected to begin January 18. A contract aerial line crew will replace the red marker balls on a transmission line that spans the Mississippi River between Davenport and the Rock Island Arsenal that warn pilots about the power lines.

• Transmission Tower Replacement over I-280 in Davenport, expected to begin January 25.This project involves replacing the overhead transmission structures at the Interstate-280 and Iowa Highway 22 interchange (Exit 8) in Davenport. A highly specialized contract high-voltage line crew will move overhead lines from the old to the new structures while the lines remain energized to avoid interrupting service. The project should not require road closures.

The crew has experience working on energized high-voltage lines, but this is a first for MidAmerican. Keeping transmission lines energized while performing this kind of work minimizes inconveniences to customers, so MidAmerican will evaluate this approach for certain types of future transmission projects.

• Power Line Marker Replacements over the Mississippi River at Enchanted Island in Davenport, expected to begin January 19. A contract aerial line crew will replace red marker balls that warn pilots about the power lines on a transmission line that spans the Mississippi River between Buffalo and Andalusia, over Enchanted Island in Davenport.

Dates are tentative for all four projects. Weather conditions, including wind speeds, among other considerations, can affect timelines.