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Overhead reconstruction with unique challenges
Published 31 July 2017
When you’re maintaining over 25,000km of lines, you’re bound to come up against projects that have unique challenges, quirks and often geographical challenges.
A recent example is an overhead reconstruction project we're completing in the North Island, involving 3km of pole cross-arm and conductor replacements.
This section of line was particularly challenging as the new conductor had to be hauled over a kiwifruit orchard as well as a river.
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Northpower crews at work.
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Conductor replacement in progress.
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View from the kiwifruit orchard.
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Replacing the conductor over the river.
Our crew had a plan in place to stop and inspect each of the 15 line splices and crimps as they passed the middle pole, in an effort to identify any that may give way and cause the conductor to drop on either the kiwifruit orchard or across the river.
The job proceeded smoothly and the new conductor was successfully pulled through without incident – another illustration of Northpower’s experience and innovative approach to network maintenance.
