August Update: Webster Point Electrical Infrastructure Improvements

In March of this year, Seattle City Light began upgrading the capacity and reliability of the electrical system near Webster Point, which has affected 84 residences in that area, including approximately NE 33^rd Street on the north, Webster Point Road NE on the south, East Laurelhurst Drive NE on the east and West Laurelhurst Drive NE on the west. 

The work will take about one year to complete installation of underground conduits, vaults, and equipment in order to replace outdated 4kV electrical equipment with updated 26kV infrastructure throughout Webster Point.

Mark Vanoss, with Seattle City Light, sent this update:

PROJECT UPDATE (9/2/2015)

In August, Seattle City Light's contractor continued working from the intersection of West Laurelhurst Drive NE and NE 33rd Street. Two new vaults were installed and duct bank constructed along NE 33rd Street to its intersection with 43rd Avenue NE.

 

Over the next several weeks the contractor will be working at and near the intersection of NE 33rd Street and 43rd Avenue NE. Once that area is restored, the contractor will resume duct bank installation at Webster Point Road NE. 

 

The photo below shows the concrete pour for new sidewalks along NE 33rd Street.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Seattle City Light plans to improve the capacity, technology
and reliability of the electrical system in your neighborhood.
The project involves installing underground conduits, vaults,
and equipment in order to replace outdated 4kV electrical
equipment with updated 26kV infrastructure. 
 

 PROJECT BENEFITS

• Installing conduit and vaults will protect the
• higher-capacity 26kV system, increasing reliability.
• The current 4kV cable is buried directly in the ground. 
• The new 26kV electrical system will have more switching points,
• resulting in shorter outages with fewer customers affected
• when maintenance is required.  

PROJECT TIMELINE AND IMPACTS

• City Light hired contractor, KC Equipment.
  See estimated timeline and project sequence below.              
• Maintenance outages may be required.
• If required, customers will be notified in advance.
• Trenching will occur in the public right-of-way.
• Affected landscaping, sod, driveway aprons,
• and sidewalks will be restored to City standards.
• Parking restrictions are necessary to work safely/efficiently.
• Trenches will be covered and protected at night.
• Once conduit and vault installation are complete,
• the electrical cable will be pulled into place at a later date.
• At that time, maintenance outages will be necessary.
• Customers will receive advance notification.

TIMING AND COORDINATION

Construction Start: Early March 2015

Duration: The entire project is expected to
last approximately one year.

Schedule: Construction hours are planned for
Mon-Fri from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sequence: Construction started at the intersection of
 NE 33rd Street and East Laurelhurst Drive NE and is
expected to proceed around the loop clockwise back up to
NE 33rd Street and finish off towards the west end of NE 33rd Street.
This could change to accommodate construction modifications.

TRANSLATION SERVICES AVAILABLE AT (206) 684-3800

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MORE INFORMATION

Patty Breidenbach

Electrical Service Representative

Patty.Breidenbach@seattle.gov

(206) 684-4795

 http://www.seattle.gov/light/