Utilities and neighborhoods benefit from underground distribution cables. The right-of-way- is beautified, and maintenance is reduced.
Distribution - Overhead to Underground
When utilities make the decision to bury electrical distribution wires there are four main reasons for doing so.
Reliability - Cables buried underground are protected from the elements. Ice storms, high wind, falling trees and snow have no effect on buried cables.
Higher level of safety - Buried cables offer greater safety since the danger from downed lines and other hazards from overhead wires is eliminated.
Aesthetics - Another point to consider, as an added benefit is the elimination of poles, wires, and transformers. This adds beauty to any neighborhood.
Lower Maintenance - Underground cables require less maintenance. There is no vegetation to trim, poles to rot, or wire to repair.
It is more expensive to “underground” distribution wires but overall, it pays off. On the downside underground cables can still be damaged by excavation work, and flooding.
Electric Conduit Construction completed a project in Northern Illinois to place two power lines underground. The project involved relocating approximately 5,000 ft. of overhead 15 kV and 35 kV distribution lines to underground conduits. The project required three phases to complete the work. The line of lay wove through parkways, streets, and back yard rights-of-way (ROW). This variety of ROW led to the use of directional drills, open-cut work and a jack-and-bore. When completed the maintenance will be reduced on this section of power line.
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Phase I consisted of open cut trenching, manhole and handhole placement. Installation of 6 in, 5 in, and 4 in power conduit via directional boring and concrete encased duct bank.
- Approx 5000 ft of 6 in HDPE, 1500 ft of 5 in HDPE, and 2000 ft of 4 in HDPE
- Approx 3000 ft of roadway trench cut, concrete encased duct bank (8500 ft of 6 in and 5500 ft of 4 in).
Phase II consisted of cable placement, termination, riser construction and switch over. 15 kV and 35 kV MV cable installation in 6 in, 5 in, and 4 in conduits (up to 1000 KCMIL in size) between the existing overhead portion and the new underground portion.
- Approx 16000 ft of 35 kV rated 750 KCMIL, 16000 ft of 15 kV rated 1000 KCMIL, 3500 ft of 15 kV rated 4/0 AWG, and 3000 ft of 15 kV rated 1/0 AWG.
- Cables pulled with mule tape and a tugger
- Tracer wire installation in 4 in conduit approx. 5500 ft.
- Installation of equipment pads and cable vaults
- Installation of a 45 ft CL 2 Pole
Phase III consisted of demolition of 15 kV and 35 kV overhead wire and pole-mounted equipment. Approx 4000 feet of pole wire was removed (8 wires total). Poles were cut just above the fiber optic cable and removed. The entire work area’s hard and soft surfaces were restored. This project was executed by Electric Conduit Construction over a period of 10 months.
Safety considerations varied with the seasons and included irregular surfaces, slip and trip hazards, line of fire hazards, overhead work with fall protections, rigging and hoisting, and electrical hazards.
Electric Conduit Construction has built utility infrastructure for over 60 years. The company serves the upper Midwest with offices and yards in Elburn, Melrose Park, IL. Services include distribution, overhead and underground, Fiber OSP and ISP, 5G cellular, solar, EV charging, horizontal directional drilling, opencut, and associated civil work. We welcome your RFP’s. If you wish to talk with one of our Project Managers, or submit an RFP please click on request a project or call Carl Oko at +1 630-360-7903.