The Bonneville Power Administration will begin rebuilding an aging power line next week more than a decade beyond its expected service life. Rebuilding the 72-year-old Albany-Eugene 115-kilovolt line from Albany to Junction City, Ore., will create 30 to 60 new construction-related jobs.

BPA has performed only routine maintenance on the line since it was built in 1940 to deliver electricity to the southern Willamette Valley from the 3-year-old Bonneville Dam. The $15.9 million overhaul is part of BPA's wood pole replacement program. With a service life of 55 to 60 years, many wood structures and associated components are physically worn and in need of replacement.

"This project ensures that BPA will be able to continue to safely deliver power to Eugene and the surrounding area," said Erich Orth, BPA project manager. "This line has served the lower Willamette Valley for many years, and these improvements will allow that to continue for many years to come."

Construction will begin Monday, June 11. Crews will work during the next two summers to complete the project. About 6,300 trees that pose danger to the transmission line will be removed from August to March to minimize impacts to agriculture and migratory birds. New trees will be planted to restore the migratory bird habitat.

Wetlands also exist along much of the project. However, impacts to wetlands will be relatively minor because access will be temporary and poles will be replaced with the same kind of poles in the same places.

Crews will use the existing alignment to reduce right-of-way acquisition costs. Most of the transmission line is on an easement on a railroad right-of-way that runs through agricultural areas. There are few permanent access roads, and access is currently through farm fields. Temporary access roads would be used for construction and maintenance of the project.

On June 1, 2012, BPA Administrator Steve Wright signed a Record of Decision authorizing the rebuild. To view the ROD visit: http://www.bpa.gov/go/RODS. To learn more, visit the project's website at http://efw.bpa.gov.