New Zealand’s largest stringing operation starts
27 October 2011
The final phase of transmission line work for the North Island Grid Upgrade Project has begun this month, with Transpower Northern Grid Alliance crews hanging insulators and pulleys and flying out draw wires.
The largest transmission stringing operation in New Zealand will see the 100 strong stringing crews move incrementally down the newly constructed line, starting in the north and heading south towards Whakamaru.
Eighteen conductors (wires) and an additional two earth wires (one being used to carry fibre optic) will be strung through 426 towers over 186km of new double circuit line when completed.
Transpower Northern Grid Alliance project manager Ian Ditchfield, said the planning and logistics for this phase of the project is second to none and the project is leading the industry globally for this kind of activity.
“Our focus has been to drive safety and efficiencies through innovation and technology. This includes going paperless where crews use Ipad tablets for onsite communications and high tech and high spec mobile satellite offices and welfare stations,” he said.
Mr Ditchfield likens the stringing activities and planning to building a small mobile city to accommodate the welfare and work conditions for crews.
“99% of our line work is through remote heartland Waikato. Our challenge is how we look after the guys on and off the job, maintain good communications with the communities look after the environment,” he said.
Stringing is expected to be completed in September 2012.