PG&E Continues Helicopter Use Above San Mateo

PG&E is continuing to use helicopters over San Mateo this week as part of a $10 million project to improve service reliability to homes and businesses throughout the San Francisco Peninsula, agency officials said Tuesday.

PG&E will be utilizing helicopters to transport construction workers and equipment to the PG&E electric towers parallel to the San Mateo Bridge crossing the San Francisco Bay throughout the remainder of this week.

The purpose of this work is to upgrade existing electric transmission lines running from Hayward to San Mateo, according to PG&E.

Motorists and nearby residents may see PG&E workers suspended from helicopters during this work. PG&E pioneered this type of work, called “long lining.”

Specific locations for the work will be:

• Towers parallel to the San Mateo Bridge
• Towers at the west anchorage of the San Mateo Bridge to Mariners Island Blvd
• Towers in Seal Point and Shoreline Parks
• Towers parallel to the Bay Trail
• Towers in Foster City

Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013.