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According to PG&E Public Affairs Representative Marcos Montes, "Our project team will be meeting with first responders in advance of beginning work to discuss safety precautions and develop a plan in case of an emergency."
PG&E sent letters to Moraga and Lafayette customers detailing the project's schedule, road closure and detour information. Automated phone calls to residents were scheduled the week prior to the project's start date to remind them of the anticipated construction.
PG&E plans on upgrading and strengthening the electrical system to help reduce wildfire threat. They have identified this as a reinforcement and capacity project which will include replacing 80 electric poles, installing 11,000 feet of larger covered power lines, performing vegetation management, installing down-guys and anchors along with updating equipment.
"The Enhanced Vegetation Management work will include meeting state standards for minimum clearances around the power line and addressing overhanging limbs or branches 4 feet out from the lines and up to the sky," explained Montes. PG&E also plans on "removing hazardous vegetation such as dead or dying trees that pose a potential risk to the lines and evaluating the condition of trees that may need to be addressed if they are tall enough to strike the lines."
While the work is in progress the road closure will apply to non-residents. No through-traffic will be allowed. Anyone traveling north on St. Mary's Road will have to detour onto Rheem Boulevard. Anyone traveling south will have to detour onto Glenside Drive (there will be posted detour routes). The hours of closure are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning June 1 and ending on approximately Aug. 14.
For project information contact PG&E Public Affairs Team Member Julian Lacson at (925) 348-3532 or julian.lacson@pge.com.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA