PGE will continue undergrounding power lines along HWY 70 in Western Plumas County this week. A total of 20 miles of overhead lines is expected to go underground to reduce wildfire and increase safety. PG&E says Underground work in local communities can reduce the risk of ignitions by 99 percent, reduce annual spending on temporary repairs and other recurring costs such as vegetation management, and lessen the need for wildfire safety-related outages.
If traveling in this direction, do expect one-way traffic controls in effect for 24 hours, seven days a week, through September of next year. Give yourself extra traveling time of up to 15 minutes during the week and 45 during the nights and weekends.
Contract crews will be trenching and boring to install the conduit starting at the Grizzly Creek Bridge about one mile east of the Plumas-Butte county line and working east to Rich Bar Road near Twain.
When PG&E has completed the undergrounding project, about 60 miles of power lines will be undergrounded in western Plumas County.
After the undergrounding is complete, PG&E will remove the existing overhead power lines. The new underground power lines will serve the communities of Belden, Tobin, and Rock Crest Camp.
Travel through the Feather River canyon will continue to be congested as both PG&E and Caltrans will have traffic controls throughout the summer.
PG&E is working closely with the County of Plumas and Caltrans to ensure the work is well coordinated with other projects, such as road work.
Caltrans District 2 and Hat Creek Construction & Materials, Inc. will begin the second phase of sinkhole repairs on State Route 70 in the Beckwourth area (PM 81.82) starting Wednesday, May 24. Motorists should plan for 24/7 traffic control in the area with 15-minute delays. All work is planned to be completed by noon on Friday, May 26.
