As I was passing through the north-eastern Melbourne suburb of Watsonia today, I noticed some very very tall cranes on the horizon. Closer inspection revealed that I was actually witnessing the relocation of two 220 kV electricity transmission towers.
There surely cannot be a more high-pressure job than relocating 220 kV power lines across a busy Melbourne highway.
The relocation of the towers is to make way for the North-East Link freeway that will connect the Metropolitan Ring Road with the Eastern Freeway and complete the circle of freeways around metropolitan Melbourne.
The existing towers sit wedged between Greensborough Highway and the Hurstbridge Railway line. The whole area is to be turned into freeway in a few months when construction commences for the new road.
Remarkably, the men are able to slowly install the new wires whilst the towers remain live, which means that everyone’s electricity supply should remain uninterrupted.
This is clearly delicate work that requires a lot of forethought and careful planning. I’m certainly glad that this isn’t my job – imagine the pressure! The lines will slowly be moved across to the new towers in coming weeks before the old towers are demolished.
