Atlantic Testing Laboratories has teamed with Burns & McDonnell Consultants, Inc. to provide Subsur
face Investigation and Geotechnical Evaluation on the first phase of SMART Path Project (Strengthening Moses-Adirondack with Resilient Technology). The project, which is owned by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) runs about 85 miles from Massena, NY, home to the St. Lawrence-FDR hydroelectric plant, to a substation in Croghan, Lewis County, NY.
The 230 kV lines were built by the federal government in 1942 and were acquired by the NYPA in 1953. The route for all but eight miles of the lines travels on outdated wooden structures that need to be replaced periodically. The new 230 kV line will be installed on steel structures that will sit on concrete foundations.
The subsurface investigation and geotechnical information ATL provides will be used to design the foundations of the new steel structures. It is anticipated there will be between 800 and 850 towers needed to support the new transmission line. The geotechnical work is scheduled to begin in July, 2016 and be completed in approximately eight months.
All construction is expected to be on the existing right-of-way in order to minimize the impact on the environment and adjacent property. To navigate the various terrains our drilling division will be using a variety of techniques and equipment such as the Geoprobe Model 7822DT, which is highly versatile and excellent at navigating tough project sites. Design and construction is expected to take approximately five years and once completed it will ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity on high-demand days.
