Best Practices in Power Line Access & Road Construction

SAFE ACCESS

Safety is the most important consideration for any access solution. Many power or transmission lines are located in remote areas that are difficult to access. There may be no existing roads and many challenges to overcome, including steep grades, dense vegetation, flowing streams, and other obstacles.

No matter the terrain or the weather, workers need to be able to safely access the site, stabilize equipment, move materials, and so on. To do this, they need stable, reliable roads that won’t shift or buckle. Once access solutions have been implemented to allow teams to get to and from the site, equipotential zones (EPZ) grounding grates are critical in creating a safe work zone.

EFFICIENT ACCESS

Crews should be able to focus on the work at hand, not on the details of site access. The more efficiently crews can get in and out of the site, the more likely they are to stay within budget and meet deadlines. This is especially important for power lines because people depend on uninterrupted service. Creating customized access road strategies for each site will ensure that the right materials are used in the right circumstances, with no waste or unnecessary extra costs.

SUSTAINABLE ACCESS

Environmental regulations require certain activities to minimize impact. These could include:

• Reducing runoff.
• Preventing pollution from entering waterways.
• Protecting endangered species.
• Preventing the spread of invasive species. 

Avoid fines and reputational damage by complying with environmental regulations and leaving no trace after power line work is complete. This includes using site access strategies that minimally disrupt the ground below, removing all materials from the site, and employing site restoration activities as needed.

CUSTOMIZED ACCESS

Every site is different, so the strategies used for one power line project might not work for the next. Farmland, wetlands, waterways, forests, and mountains all present unique site access challenges, and some sites may include multiple types of terrain. This is why tailored solutions are required to ensure safe access and meet the specific environmental requirements of the site. Because of this, many sites use multiple systems for the most cost-effective approach. Your project might need a combination of wetland access solutions, gravel pads, timber mat roads, and so on.

FLOATING ROAD ACCESS FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR ON A REMOTE ISLAND

When a Maine utility company needed to send crews to a remote island to maintain a transmission structure that serves 646,000 customers in an 11,000-square-mile area, they turned to us for expert help. YAK ACCESS company BLUROC used the emtek® wetland access system to:

• Build a 1,300-foot-long, 14-foot-wide floating road.
• Support up to 87,500 pounds of heavy equipment.
• Protect the fragile ecosystem of the Great Salt Bay.
• Complete the project two months ahead of schedule with zero safety incidents.

SITE PREPARATION

The first step in creating site access for power line projects is land preparation.
This might include:

1. Clearing, Mowing, and Grubbing - Removal of vegetation and overgrowth creates a clear path for the access road.
2. Site Development and Civil Services - Trenches, culverts, and other drainage systems control runoff. We execute civil engineering plans based on survey data and  topographic maps.
3. Earthmoving, Grading, and Excavation - Moving soil from one location to another creates level areas and allows access to areas blocked by berms or other obstacles.

ACCESS CONSTRUCTION

Once the site is prepared, we can customize the access road based on the terrain and other environmental challenges. This often includes:

ACCESS ROAD PLANNING AND STRATEGY

We work closely with utility companies to determine the best approach to meet their specific needs. To do this, we look at .kmz and project takeoff files to evaluate every area, perform site visits to assess soil conditions, and learn from past experiences on the site. Our work is focused on not only how many mats are needed, but also what types of mats, which areas need to be accessed, where the property lines are, and many other factors.

ACCESS ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MATTING

We make temporary roads from dirt, rock, gravel, traditional timber mats, composite mats, CLT mats, 3-ply laminated mats, and other methods. The strategy depends on the terrain, weather, soil conditions, equipment weight, and travel frequency. Because terrain changes along the access route, we often recommend a combination of approaches as the most cost-effective solution.

EMTEK® WETLAND ACCESS SYSTEM

Used in wetlands and to create floating bridges, the patented design of the emtek® wetland access system floats above the vegetation, allows water to flow beneath, and rises and falls with tides or changing water levels.

TEMPORARY BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Cross streams, ditches, and other obstacles with temporary bridges designed to support the weight of heavy equipment.

SWPPP MITIGATION AND COMPLIANCE

We implement stormwater management strategies, including straw wattles, silt fencing, and other methods, to ensure compliance with local regulations. Our teams also have experience with Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), including the reporting and adjustments required throughout the project.

WORK PADS

We set up work areas to repair and maintain transmission lines and distribution equipment. This could include crane mats to provide a stable work surface and EPZ grounding grates to create a safe work zone

We perform all aspects of site access for power lines, from site clearing to temporary road installation to restoration. Our deep experience with power line projects allows us to deliver accurate estimates based on solutions tailored for your site, leading to cost savings when it’s possible to use cheaper or fewer mats. Our collaborative approach to finding the best possible solutions means fewer change orders and unplanned expenses because we know how to prepare for the unexpected.

We prioritize the safety of our crews and every person working on or visiting the site. We are also experienced with environmental compliance and working with SWPPPs. Having a national presence with multiple storage yards throughout the country ensures efficient access to our large, diverse mat inventory. The bottom line is: We can supply whatever makes sense for your project.

YAK ACCESS works on both union and non-union projects with major utility companies and smaller clients throughout the country.

When you partner with YAK, we provide:

• Protocols through our SAFETY MATTERS program
• A la carte or turnkey site preparation services
• On-site operations management
• Account management
• Project management teams
• Site access consultations

If you’d like to discuss your next power line construction project, contact YAK ACCESS today.