Maxwelton substation work nearing completion

Construction on a 25-megavolt substation off Highway 525 is nearly finished according to Puget Sound Energy.

May 3, 2016 5:33 pm
Puget Sound Energy workers have cleared forest adjacent to Highway 525 as part of the $10 million Maxwelton substation project. Transmission lines will eventually be routed across the road and will cause a future closure on the highway.
Puget Sound Energy workers have cleared forest adjacent to Highway 525 as part of the $10 million Maxwelton substation project. Transmission lines will eventually be routed across the road and will cause a future closure on the highway.

Construction on a 25-megavolt substation off Highway 525 is nearly finished according to Puget Sound Energy.

The $10 million project, which began in 2010, should be finished in late May or early June, said Project Manager Jim Kearnes.

“Generally, things are proceeding right along the plan,” Kearnes said.

One of the most noticeable impacts of the project has been the clearing of trees adjacent to the highway. It’s opened a path for transmission line connections across the road and will eventually cause a closure on the highway for six to eight hours. Kearnes expected the connection will be done during the day to avoid mishaps that could occur at night. Traffic will be rerouted along Craw Road.

“It’s going to be safer for our folks and the motoring public to reroute roads during the day than in the dark,” Kearnes said.

The substation will separate three transmission lines, two coming from North Whidbey and one from Langley, and route them to a single bus with circuit breakers. In the event of a power outage, the line will be tripped