Work on a 500-kilovolt transmission line across the Fraser River between Surrey and Coquitlam is nearing completion, close to two years after one of the towers fell into the river.
Accelerated erosion caused by high river levels was blamed for wearing down the foundation of the tower on the Surrey side, which compromised the stability of the neighbouring tower.
BC Hydro has spent the last two years stabilizing the transmission lines and towers, which are now stronger and taller. This has eliminated the need for towers at the edge of the river.
In the summer of 2011, the downed power lines caused traffic gridlock and raised fears that the river currents would pull power lines down onto Coquitlam roadways.
BC Hydro crews were forced to cut several transmission lines over Lougheed Highway, Highway 1, United Boulevard and the CN Rail tracks to relieve stress on the system caused by the pull of the river.
BC Hydro vice-president David Lebeter said at the time that underwater scouring of the tower footings took engineers by surprise.
