Avista rebuilding transmission line from 4th of July Pass to Cataldo

SPOKANE – Avista Utilities has announced their intentions to rebuild roughly 13 miles of transmission line running from 4th of July Pass to Cataldo, Idaho.

A segment of the project includes relocating to E. Canyon Road approximately 3.5 miles of transmission line that runs through the Mission Slough and rebuilding the existing power line on E. Canyon Road. Initial work will begin in April with the project expected to be completed in winter 2018.

The work along E. Canyon Road includes upgrading equipment and replacing 1930s era poles with self-weathering steel poles that are taller and larger than existing poles to accommodate adding the transmission line being relocated from Mission Slough. The transmission line relocation will allow for easier, quicker year-round access for maintenance and repairs and for service restoration if an outage occurs. Some of the existing older poles will be left in the Mission Sough to support avian nesting habitat.

Relocating the transmission line from Mission Slough will require that new poles be placed along a 1.5 mile section of E. Canyon Road, east of Dredge Road that does not currently have poles. Work is expected to begin Monday, April 9, to remove trees to create a safe buffer zone between the trees and the segment of new transmission line.

There are expected to be some temporary travel lane restrictions on E. Canyon Road while crews are working. Customers in the E. Canyon Road area will be notified in advance of any necessary power outages which are expected to be minimal.