Hertel‑New York interconnection line
New!
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Work
Description of work
Underground line
The construction method selected for the underground line is the following. At the edge of the road, we will dig a trench measuring approximately 1 metre wide and a minimum of 1.2 metres deep. In this trench, we will build a concrete-encased duct bank which will house the two electric cables. We will also construct underground joint bays made of prefabricated concrete measuring about 3-m wide by 12-m long throughout the length of the line, at regular intervals of 1.5 km, depending on the obstacles encountered along the way.
Other construction methods will also be used based on the obstacles to cross (e.g., streams, railways or drainage systems), including specific techniques, such as directional drilling.
Underground line construction steps
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Teams hired by Hydro‑Québec to carry out the work secure the site and install signage to ensure the safety of workers and road users.
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The trench is excavated in the road right-of-way. The fill is carried to a specialized disposal site.
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A concrete-encased duct is installed. It contains the conduits in which the line’s two electric cables will be inserted.
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An underground prefabricated concrete joint bay is installed every 1.5 km along the route for the installation of cable joints. The ducts connect to these joint bays.
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The cables are pulled and handled from the joint bays. A crane deposits the cable reel and guides the cable to the target duct. The cable junctions are made, the joint bays are filled with sand and then concrete is used to close it all in.
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If the duct runs along a road right-of-way, the trench is filled with new material before the road surface is repaired, in line with requirements. If the duct runs through soil, the soil is piled and then put back in place once the work is complete. In this way, there are no residual impacts once the construction work is over!
Connection at the crossing point
Once the line crosses over from land to water, directional drilling will be used. At the Canada–U.S. border, the underwater cables from the U.S. partner will be pulled into the ducts of the borehole, where they will be protected at the bottom of the Rivière Richelieu.
Line operation
Equipment to be installed in each of the converters at the ends of the line, in Québec and New York, will allow us to detect and locate any electrical faults and correct them as quickly as possible. If the line is damaged, it will be de-energized instantly.
Addition of a converter at Hertel substation
The conversion equipment will be installed in a new 5,000-m2 building on Hydro‑Québec property.
The electrical equipment needed to connect the converter to the 735-kV system will be installed within the existing substation and planned expansion area.
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Map of the planned expansion area
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Work in progress
Diaporama
The following content is a slideshow of images on the work in progress.
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Construction of a duct along Highway 15. -
Construction of a duct. -
Construction of a splice chamber near Exit 21 of Highway 15 in Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville. -
Construction of a splice chamber near Exit 21 of Highway 15 in Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville. -
Construction of a splice chamber near Exit 21 of Highway 15 in Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville. -
Each reel is delivered to the construction site by flatbed trailer. A crane is then used to unload the reel from the flatbed trailer and place it at the stringing site near the splice chamber. -
Approximately 1,500 metres of cable are wound around each reel brought to the construction site. Each reel weighs close to 50 tonnes. -
Cable-stringing area near a splice chamber in Lacolle. -
Cable-stringing operation in Lacolle. -
Cable-stringing operation in Lacolle. -
Landing site in Lacolle. A drill bores a hole in the ground in the direction of the Rivière Richelieu in order to connect with the borehole drilled from a barge in the river. -
Landing site in Lacolle. -
Duct pulling operation at the landing site in Lacolle. -
The 900-metre duct must be pulled and inserted into the borehole until it reaches the bed of the Rivière Richelieu. -
Pulling of the 900-metre duct in the borehole. The duct must join the bed of the Rivière Richelieu. -
Pulling of the 900-metre duct in the borehole. The duct must join the bed of the Rivière Richelieu. -
Jobsite personnel at the landing site in Lacolle. -
A barge on the Rivière Richelieu from which a drill bores a hole in the riverbed in the direction of the hole drilled on the landing site in Lacolle. -
A barge on the Rivière Richelieu. -
A barge on the Rivière Richelieu. -
Workers on the Rivière Richelieu. -
Stations that measure suspended solids are installed in the Rivière Richelieu to monitor water quality while the work is being carried out on the river.
Interactive map of work
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