Favorite types of power lines along highways

[Mr. Matté]

There's a lot of people who hate the sight of those damn power lines (although they're probably the same people who complain first when there's a blackout due to lack of transmission capacity) but I like to see the myriad of designs many power companies use.

What are some of your favorite types of power line designs seen along roads/highways?

Mine include this type used across the Mid Atlantic states (this specific picture along I-81 in PA):

(source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/versageek/3637288836/)

And on the West coast, this type seen all along I-5 in central California:

[Hellfighter]

[agentsteel53]

the kind you can easily erase in Photoshop.  I don't mind the towers, but the lines (especially when there are 5-10 in parallel) get on my nerves terribly.

[BigMattFromTexas]

I like those towers that kinda look like giant people, although those used to scare me 

[Hellfighter]

I like those towers that kinda look like giant people, although those used to scare me 

Dude, that's what I also used to do, along with the traffic lights! 

[Stephane Dumas]

The power lines don't afraid me, I remember a time when I was scared by the horn of a train when it approached a railroad crossing

I spotted some power line pics these 735 kv lines who spans the St-Lawrence River at Boischatel, east of Quebec city http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hydro_Quebec_Boischatel_Crossing.JPG
a 230 kv with a 450 kv high-tension direct current
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hydro_Quebec_450kv_Route_20.jpg

[florida]

The ones still standing along old alignments of roads.

[Truvelo]

It's not the high voltage that interests me. I'm more into the telephone lines with open wires. Over here we still have plenty of telephone poles with insulators mounted on crossarms like the examples below. In North America such installations are long gone and now they just use one thick wire with several smaller ones inside.

[rawmustard]

It's not the high voltage that interests me. I'm more into the telephone lines with open wires. Over here we still have plenty of telephone poles with insulators mounted on crossarms like the examples below. In North America such installations are long gone and now they just use one thick wire with several smaller ones inside.

And at least in the last two decades, phone companies have been gradually burying phone line in rural areas and some city areas.

[mightyace]

^^^
By my house, the utility poles carry electricity and the Charter Communications (cable-based TV, Internet, Phone).

The phone lines are buried underground.  So, near my house, saying "telephone pole" is technically incorrect. 

[BigMattFromTexas]

Ughh the power lines in San Angelo look horrible

[PAHighways]

Mine include this type used across the Mid Atlantic states (this specific picture along I-81 in PA):

(source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/versageek/3637288836/)

Looks just like Interstate 90 in Erie County, PA:  same towers and same terrain.

[hm insulators]

Truvelo: Those are cool-looking old poles and insulators!   I'm sending you a PM.

[Hellfighter]

Hey! I saw those on Thomas the Tank Engine! 

[Truvelo]

Hey! I saw those on Thomas the Tank Engine! 

I believe Thomas the Tank Engine is British is he not? He is based on a British locomotive.

I'm not sure those poles will survive much longer. That road is due to be widened to a six lane freeway with shoulders.

[njroadhorse]

I'm not sure those poles will survive much longer. That road is due to be widened to a six lane freeway with shoulders.

Which A-road is that? The A2?

[Truvelo]

Which A-road is that? The A2?

No it's the A8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, there's a small section that's shown in green on maps instead of blue.

[Hellfighter]

Along I-96 between Wixom Road and the M-5/I-275/I-696 interchange...

[andy3175]

To bump a very old thread, for those of you still interested, we added some pictures of roadside power lines on the AARoads Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151626122292948.1073741829.181045197947&type=1

Enjoy!
Andy

[ET21]

Well since it's now bumped 

Although not power "Lines", these wind towers have been popping up across DeKalb and Lee counties along I-88, I-39, IL-23, and US-30.

[Brandon]

Regarding power lines, I only have this to say (with my experience with Commonwealth Edison):

BURY THEM! 

[mgk920]

I like the newer monopole lines that American Transmission Company ('ATC', owned by a consortium of Wisconsin-based utility companies and operated on an 'open access' basis) is building.

Examples include this 345 kVAC line that was built in the '00s' between the Wausau, WI and Duluth, MN areas ( http://goo.gl/maps/QWfo1 - this is where it crosses WI 29 just west of Owen, WI).  Another is this lower-voltage line that runs along WI 29 between about Marathon City and Abbottsford, WI: http://goo.gl/maps/qnle6

Here is a 345 kVAC monopole line along US 151 between Fond du Lac and Waupun, WI that pre-dates ATC: http://goo.gl/maps/tNHma  (I like the long runs between support structures, very sleek and efficient looking, IMHO)

(Apologies for the older Streetview images)

Mike

[agentsteel53]

Regarding power lines, I only have this to say (with my experience with Commonwealth Edison):

BURY THEM! 

yeah, my local utility company - SD G&E - could stand to be buried, too.

[NJRoadfan]

Monopoles were just installed to replace old lattice towers along one of the local utility's lines here. They are taller, but appear to be easier to maintain.

http://www.pseg.com/family/pseandg/powerline/reliability_projects/structure_design.jsp

[hm insulators]

Seems like monopoles are becoming more and more common for new or replacement construction. Southern California Edision is replacing some of their oldest lattice towers with new ones that will hold 500Kv lines as part of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, although there is one short stretch of monopoles (just north of where I-210 and I-605 meet) on a replacement line being installed along the San Gabriel River.