Construction crews have started building Pacificorp's 135-mile high-voltage transmission line from a new substation near Downey, Idaho, to an existing substation near the Salt Lake City International Airport.

The new Populus-to-Terminal transmission line is the first segment in PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway transmission expansion. Work began at the end-points in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Downey, Idaho, in February, to be in-service by year-end 2010. Once completed, PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway transmission expansion will help to ensure its two divisions, Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power, can serve the long-term electric needs of their customers with a diverse portfolio of generating resources.

The early stages of construction include building access roads and excavation for the concrete foundations to support the transmission structures. As the year progresses, nearly 350 contract employees will work along the line route to complete the project.

The Populus-to-Terminal construction contract was awarded in October 2008 to Populus-Terminal Transmission Partners, A.J.V., a partnership of Black & Veatch Construction Inc., Henkels & McCoy, Inc. and Kiewit Western Co. The joint venture, headquartered near Ogden, Utah, is providing engineering, procurement and construction services.

PacifiCorp continues to work closely with communities, stakeholders and landowners along potential routes of other new transmission lines that are part of the Energy Gateway transmission project in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and in Washington and Oregon.