August 3, 2004, crews put the bridge on the first complete tower on the Wyoming-Jacksons
Ferry 765 kV project. The tower was constructed in Wyoming County, W.Va.
Appalachian Power uses a selective right-of-way clearing, only clearing trees could
interfere with the line, on the Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry 765 kV project.
Compatible tree species are marked and left in the rights of way on the Wyoming-Jacksons
Ferry project.
To help the project blend into the environment better, the company is using darkened,
non-reflective steel, as can be seen in this photo of an existing tower.
Wyoming Station, in Wyoming County, W.Va., with the right of way for the Wyoming-Jacksons
Ferry project in the distance.
Construction crews erecting towers on East River Mountain, in Bland County, Va.
In April 2005, the company used a Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to air-lift partially
assembled guyed-V towers from staging yards to tower sites on the West Virginia
end of the project.
The heavy-lift Chinook transports a 21,000-pound transmission tower bridge.
Crews below receive a transmission tower bridge for a Wyoming County, W.Va, tower.
In routing the project, landscape architects used the landscape to help shield the
project from view, as can be seen at Kimball, W.Va. The mountain helps shield the
project from the town.
A Chinook helicopter air-lifts a guyed-V structure to a Bland County, Va., site
in the Jefferson National Forest.
The tower erection phase of construction was completed in October 2005. A Chinook
helicopter assisted in setting eight of the final towers. In total 333 towers were
erected on the project.
Guys are adjusted to ensure the structure is plumb.
A Chinook helicopter delivers a 21,000-pound bridge to tower masts.
A PAR Electric employee torques bolts on a self-supporting tower near the New River
in Wythe County, Va.
Crews are briefed before the bridge arrives.
In Wythe County, Va., ground crews move the base of a guyed-V tower into place as
it is suspended from a Chinook helicopter.
AEP's six-bundle spacer holds the conductor in a hexagon configuration that cuts
the audible noise levels from the project in half compared to older generations
of 765 kV lines.
A PAR installer uses a special tool to fasten the spacer to the conductor.
An employee from PAR Electrical Contractors installs a spacer dampener.
An installer rides a spacer buggy across I-77 in Bland County, Va. in February 2006.