After almost 2 1/2 years a transmission line (electrical) project I've been working on is almost to fruition. The route includes 3 sub-stations and has been challenging at times. One of the sub-sites is necessary to feed the transfer facilities for some big "cross canadian ragweed" hydrocarbon pipeline. That end of the job is like a chinese fire-drill on crack.
After many major reworks it looked like everybody was on the same page and some towers finally started stickin' up in the air. Last week the erection crews started on the final half mile. The drill crew was augering a hole for a 110' galv. steel direct bury tower. The grounding plate on the bottom of the pole is 30". I'm assuming the auger bit is at least 36".
Suddenly the area is swamped with the 'pipeline police'.
Whoa...you can't dig there.
Whynot?
There's a 30" pipeline right here (6' from the tower hole).
So? We won't hit it.
But it's in our easement. We got 30 feet each way.
'snot...'sin our easement.
Everybody gets on their cell phones. I'm surprised we didn't pop a 50 amp breaker at the local cell tower. My one phone call was to the right-of-way folks for the utility co. that writes my checks. Some quick research revealed the power company had "senior" rights; their easement pre-dated the pipeline easement.
Finally somebody gets a hold of an engineer with the pipeline folks. One fella talking to this engineer on his cell comes over to my truck and states, "My engineer says your line is suppose to be an aerial line.." And then stares at me with 'deer-in-headlights' enthusiasm.
I told him to tell his engineer that it was an aerial line, but we were having a problem with gravity...and we're going to have to stick up a pole every 600' or so to keep the conductors from falling on the ground.
some people have no sense of humor whatsoever...sheeesh.:pinch:
:good:
PAyden, as usual, you get the angle on things, that is too funny!!!
That was good. you aughta carry a camera. "America's funniest engineers"
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