Cold Springs Electricity Distribution Line

The purpose of this project is to reestablish electricity to the Cold Springs Lookout near Philo in Mendocino County which houses repeater and ancillary radio infrastructure. Facilities have been powered by generators since storms damaged overland distribution lines three years ago. New electrical infrastructure will be installed by undergrounding a distribution line in the road prism of Signal Ridge Road, the access route to the facility. Portions of the road are maintained by Mendocino County and others are privately owned. The project includes the installation of approximately 2 miles (10,440 feet) of 4-inch electrical conduit within a designated 40-foot-wide corridor, centered 20 feet on either side of the existing road centerline. The conduit will be installed in a trench approximately 2 feet wide x 3 feet deep, with pull strings included in all conduit sections to facilitate future cable installation. Trenches will be backfilled in compacted lifts, and the road will be resurfaced with compacted gravel. Occasional trees along the roadside will be removed to accommodate a 15-foot vertical clearance for safe and effective equipment access or where their location interferes with the placement of splice boxes or conduit. Ten ditch relief culverts and one stream crossing culvert on Signal Ridge Road will be replaced where equipment cannot tunnel underneath to reach required depth. Culvert replacements will occur in the same locations and existing configurations. Property access agreements will be obtained from landowners. The contractor for this project will coordinate with PG&E for inspections and final energization of the system. This project ensures reliable service to critical communications facilities.