SaskPower Awards 230-kilovolt Transmission Line Contract

SaskPower has selected Valard Construction to build 300 kilometres of 230-kilovolt transmission line between Island Falls and Key Lake in northern Saskatchewan.

"Valard enjoys a strong working relationship with SaskPower, and we are eager to leverage our knowledge of the region, experience and resources on another initiative to strengthen the region's electric power infrastructure," said Jim O'Neil, president and chief executive officer of Quanta Services, which owns Valard Construction. "With the largest highly skilled and mobile power infrastructure workforce in Canada, we anticipate another safe and successful project."

The project scope includes foundation construction, installation of about 900 transmission towers, wire stringing and related project management.

To minimize environmental impact, the route of the new transmission line will parallel an existing SaskPower transmission line.  Valard has initiated engineering activities and the project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2015.

Once in service, the new transmission line should increase reliability and provide infrastructure to meet the growing demand for power in northern Saskatchewan.

Edmonton-based Valard Construction is a leading full-service engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, which provides power system requirements throughout Canada. The company was founded in 1978 and comprises a workforce of 1,400 trades-related people, 600 pieces of dedicated utility equipment and an experienced management team.