Progress Energy to put power line under river

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new power line is scheduled to go up on the Cape Fear River. Actually underneath it.

Progress Energy says it will build a new transmission line 60 feet beneath the floor of the Cape Fear River. The company says it needs the line to ensure service is not interrupted if the two existing lines over the river are affected. The new line will follow the same path where the two current lines sit.

“What’s great about this particular project is all the work will be conducted from each side of the river bank and then underneath the river bed. In our entire evaluation process we did consider impacts on shipping traffic on the Cape Fear River and this particular process will not have an impact in that regard,” said Progress Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks.

Construction will begin in late 2011. The line should be in service by early 2013.