Dismantling of power transmission towers in Vilnius western bypass

2013-06-14 Company commenced the dismantling of power transmission towers in Vilnius western bypass.
Company commenced the dismantling of power transmission towers in Vilnius western bypass.
Company commenced the dismantling of power transmission towers in Vilnius western bypass. The Company plans to disassemble reinforced concrete and metal towers of a high-voltage line and complete “The replacement of 110 kV overhead power line with the underground cable (L.Asanavičiūtė St. to Ozas St.)” project till August 2013, six months ahead of schedule.Kauno Tiltai commenced the works of moving out an overhead power transmission line extending in the territory of the Vilnius Western bypass together with the project partners Elektromontuotojas UAB, Axis Power UAB, Empower AB, and Energetikos Tinklų Institutas UAB in February 2012 under the request of by the power transmission system operator Litgrid and after it had offered the best price – 41 million litas. According to the general director of the Kauno Tiltai Company Giedrius Cvilikas: “The disassembling of two double-circuit 110 kV high voltage overhead power transmission lines in a timely manner is an obligatory part of constructing the Vilnius Western bypass, as the supports holding the overhead line extend alongside the route of the Western bypass and impede to proceed with the continuation of the high speed street. Evaluated significance of works has encouraged us to accelerate work execution and to complete the project earlier than it was planned by signing of the contract”.  “I am glad that installation of underground power transmission line in Vilnius western bypass will be completed ahead of schedule. Previously this type of reconstruction could take at least two years. It could be named as an appropriate example of quality and efficient implementation of electric installation reconstruction project”, - says general director of Litgrid, Virgilijus Poderis. Edmundas Montvilas, the head of the energy site of Kauno Tiltai Company managing the replacement of overhead power line, believes that there was no way to accelerate the replacement of overhead power line with the underground cable until now. First of all, it was necessary to lay high-voltage underground transmission cable lines. Currently, the Company operates one of the two underground lines. “Electric energy supply and dismantling of power transmission towers have been started after the installation and testing of underground cables”, - says E. Montvilas. The second underground power transmission line is still under installation and testing. The Company plans to complete disassembling of the second overhead line and project implementation until middle of August, 2013. Currently 10 specialists of the Company are involved in dismantling of the first overhead transmission line, two of them have been certified as steel erectors and undergone medical examination. “It's a dangerous job at 30 m height which could not be carried out by ordinary workers. This requires both professional and physical skills”, - says E. Montvilas. Moreover, special dismantling equipment, such as autocrane and two lift trucks shall be used. Dismantling of a single support could last from 2.5 up to 3 hours. Supports for high-voltage transmission lines extend alongside the entire route of the Western bypass of the 2 stage. 33 supports used for 32 km of 110 kV wires will be dismantled at road section of 3.125 km. Since the dismantling of supports for high-voltage power lines will be completed 6 months earlier than it was originally planned, the Kauno Tiltai Company believes that construction works of the second phase in Vilnius western bypass could be competed ahead of schedule as well. If all goes according to plan, the Vilnius western bypass will be open for transport this year.
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