Reviewing Plans S. Nevada

Description: Seattle City Light, Reviewing Plans, S. Nevada St., near East Marginal Way, Rodney Dunlap Jr., July 16th, 2020

Artist Statement: My work for Essentially Seattle involved following a few City Light crews who have been working upgrading the static line, which is a ground for lightning on a main power line to West Seattle. The new line will include a fiber optic cable as well to help the utility monitor the line. The new line originates at City Light main station on 4th Ave South and continues west over the East Duwamish Water Way and eventually over to a sub-station in the Delridge area of West Seattle. The crew was inspiring to watch, working together in a variety of difficult and dangerous situations, from High Line power work, to ferrying a “Spider Cable” – a starter rope used to start pulling a line – over the Duwamish in a boat to lead the cable pull over the water, to creating their own trail access to remote poles in rugged terrain. They worked smoothly together, and creatively solved a number of technical difficulties, dealing with gear that needed modifications for the job, numerous unique job sites and situations, and working confidently with unfamiliar parts.