Power line replacement continues

Expect to see Southern California Edison crews replacing power lines along a portion of Laguna Canyon Road at least through the middle of this month.

Workers are replacing four miles of electrical transmission lines from an area 8,700 feet north of the 73 Freeway to a substation across the street from the Sawdust Festival.

Crews have been working from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. Road and/or traffic lanes may be closed at times with occasional planned power outages.

SCE says the Santiago-Borrego-Morro Reconductor Project, which began in November, is necessary to reliably meet the electrical energy needs of Laguna Beach, according to a brief on the city’s website.

Workers are replacing 85 poles with 79 new wood poles and six lightweight steel poles, according to an Edison letter mailed to surrounding customers. Existing poles range in height from 70 to 85 feet. The new poles will be 70- to 95-feet high.

The transmission lines deliver power to the substation at 66,000 volts, and the voltage is distributed throughout the city.

For questions, please contact Edison at (714) 973-5573.

—Bryce Alderton