ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (WRGB) — Massive upgrades are underway to increase capacity at the Rotterdam Substation, one of the largest and oldest stations in the National Grid system. The site acts as a crucial hub connecting transmission lines from western New York, through the Capital Region, and downstate.
To bolster the grid, crews are undertaking significant equipment replacements, including 16 circuit breakers and 10 sets of switches. Additionally, the 77 bus is being fully replaced with new foundation supports and an approximately 150-foot-long, five-inch aluminum main bus, an upgrade from the original four-inch equipment.
On a project of this scale, getting personnel and materials deep into the right-of-ways presents a logistical hurdle. High water tables and soft ground conditions make traditional vehicles obsolete…