September 9 - 13, 2004
Retrieving the Unused Cables

Decatur to Blakely Crossing

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CMI and OPALCO retrieved an unused 25kV US Steel cable in the Decatur to Blakely crossing. This cable was taken to Seattle to be recycled.

Left: The white conduit contains a cable in use by CenturyTel and the yellow cable is the one OPALCO is to recover and send for recycle. The cliff and cables can be seen from the ferry.

Below Left: An excavator exposes the cable on the beach to facilitate retrieval

Below: The cable is cut on the beach side

Below Left & Right: The cable is pulled onto the barge where it is hosed off before being reeled up.

Below: The puller on the CMI barge

Below Right: A splice in the cable proved to be difficult to pull in

Bottom: The reeled US Steel cable.