Durable Poles To Link Power Stations

Washington Water Power crews are erecting steel power poles along U.S. Highway 95 to link its Rathdrum substation to a new switching station at Ramsey Road and Kathleen Avenue.

The tall steel poles are designed to last longer than the traditional wood ones, said Dave James, project manager for Spokane-based WWP.

Steel poles aren’t new to WWP’s power grid in North Idaho, James said. The big spires dot areas around Meyer Road, for example. The distance between the poles in this project - between 600 and 650 feet - made the strength and durability of steel poles economical, he said.

Each pole costs about $2,000, and appears to have an unlimited life span. Wooden poles, which are being used in other areas of the project, last 50-70 years in our area, he said.

The company hopes to complete the link to the two substations by spring. The project represents the second phase of construction begun in 1995 with the switching station construction at Ramsey Road. WWP brought its big natural gas turbine generating station in Rathdrum online Jan. 1, 1995, and the line will connect to the station near it.

The result of the new connection will increase reliability and allow more power to run over the WWP system, he said.

The area where the work will continue hasn’t seen major upgrading since the late 1970s, James said. “We’re trying to look to the future here with this work,” he said. The 3-mile stretch of Highway 95 has tremendous growth potential, retail experts agree.

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