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90 concrete poles arrive after a week’s delay
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. continued its push to restore power on island with the arrival of 90 concrete power poles at the Saipan port on Saturday.
Crews of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and Guam Power Authority install a concrete power pole at the Chalan Kiya substation over the weekend. (Dennis B. Chan)
The poles were supposed to arrive the previous Saturday, Aug. 15, according to acting CUC executive director John Riegel. But port closure due to Typhoon Goni and harsh weather conditions that resulted in 15-foot swells pushed back their arrival.
CUC’s priority right now—after restoring power to the hospital—is to put the Saipan airport back on the grid.
Saipan Tribune observed at least 25 poles being installed over the weekend from CUC’s Chalan Kiya substation and in areas in As Lito.
Around 2pm on Saturday, Hawaiian Rock arrived at the Saipan seaport to help CUC workers load the poles onto their two low boys and to the Chalan Kiya Substation.
CUC has two low boys that can hold nine power poles each.
The crew of the Guam Power Authority, who have worked shifts from 6am to 6pm, according to CUC officials, moved quickly.
After the poles arrived on Saturday, GPA installed the first two concrete poles before 4pm on Saturday.
CUC and federal authorities estimate around 900 to 1,200 poles are needed to complete restoration efforts on Saipan after Typhoon Soudelor hit more than three weeks ago and crippled the power grid.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has assured a “continuous flow” of power poles to assist in recovery.
FEMA’s Power Task Force has provided a schedule for the procurement, shipment, and placement of poles as of Sunday.
For Week 1, FEMA plans to source, procure, and deliver to 85 to 200 wooden poles via airlift.
Week 0 to 3 will involve installation of concrete poles between Cutoff Road and the airport.
Poles that arrive via airlift will be installed in Week 3-4.
FEMA says from Week 5-8, overhead crews will work on dressing installed poles.
On Week 6, FEMA says bulk delivery of remaining 750 to 865 “class 1” wind rate barge poles will be completed.
