Salt Lake metro system resiliency
We’re taking actions to enhance reliability and reduce the risk of equipment-related wildfires, including by replacing aging overhead power lines in areas with higher wildfire risk with fire-resistant infrastructure, such as covered conductor, and undergrounding lines in some areas.
The Olympus 13 projects include rebuilding about 13 miles of 12-kilovolt distribution lines. This project will reduce fire risk by undergrounding nearly 10 miles of 12-kilovolt distribution lines, limiting the opportunity for lines to come in contact with vegetation and by rebuilding about 3 miles of 12-kilovolt distribution lines with covered conductor and weathering steel poles.
Project need and benefits
Due to Utah’s wildfire risk, it is necessary for aging infrastructure to be replaced and increased measures to be taken to reduce the risk of wildfire.
The Olympus 13 projects (in progress) will take over 11 miles of existing electrical distribution and rebuild it with nearly 10 miles of underground lines and over three miles of overhead tree wire (the additional line miles will be due to the underground lines following the road instead of remaining overhead in straight lines).
- Undergrounding the distribution lines will help reduce wildfire risks because they will no longer be able to come in contact with vegetation. Meanwhile, the enhancements to remaining overhead distribution lines will include tree wire, which has a protective coating that reduces deterioration and helps avoid fire ignition risk.
Local impact
The Olympus 13 projects include Lower Millcreek Canyon, East Bench, Porters Fork and Upper Millcreek Canyon. The project areas include just over eight miles of U.S. Forest Service lands, half a mile of county lands and about four and a half miles of private lands.
The Olympus 13 projects will take place in phases:
- Phase 1 – Lower Millcreek Canyon – Removal of 86 poles; installation of 4 steel poles and 2 wooden poles
- Phase 2 – East Bench – Removal of 74 poles; installation of 40 steel poles and 2 wooden poles
- Phase 3 – Porters Fork – Removal of 43 poles; installation of 38 steel poles and 3 wooden poles
- Phase 4 – Upper Millcreek Canyon – Removal of 44 poles; installation of 4 steel poles and 15 wooden poles
- The span between poles will be up to 390 feet.
- The height of the poles will range between 35 and 55 feet based on terrain and location.
Progress to date
Olympus 13:
- Phase 1 (Lower Millcreek Canyon) was finished in 2022.
- Phase 2 (East Bench) was finished in 2024.
- Phase 3 (Porters Fork) was completed in 2026.
What's next
Olympus 13-Upper Millcreek Canyon | 2026-2027
- Work is being coordinated with the road widening project being performed by the U.S. Forest Service and Salt Lake County. This project will be completed in 2026-2027 when the road widening project is completed.