Prescott, AZ - Beginning August 14, 2023, Arizona Public Service (APS) will begin powerline maintenance activities in the Granite Basin area on Prescott National Forest (PNF) lands to replace various powerline structures on the Prescott-Bagdad 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. Construction crews will be working around the proximity of developed recreation sites in the Granite Basin area and associated recreation trails that also serve as administrative access for APS to service the transmission line and will be progressing to the west towards the Alto Pit developed trails system. No area closures for the Granite Basin developed facilities, Alto Pit area, or for area recreation trails are anticipated, but developed site and system trails users should be watchful for powerline maintenance crews and equipment as they work in the area. The maintenance activities are expected to take between 60 to 90 days to complete with estimated project completion towards the end of October 2023.

The APS 115-6 transmission line was authorized by PNF permit BRA401918 in 1973 and runs approximately 50 miles from the APS Willow Lake Substation in Prescott to the APS Cyprus Substation in Bagdad, AZ. The transmission line infrastructure is aging and in need of maintenance after serving Bagdad for several decades. The routine maintenance would include three structure and 52 crossarm and/or insulator replacements. The ROW is 100-foot-wide; no additional ROW or power line extensions are needed for this project. There will be some improvements made to existing, administrative use only utility access roads to complete the repairs and have improved access for future maintenance.

For additional information on the project, you can contact the Prescott National Forest Realty Specialist Chris Welker via email at [email protected] or by phone at (928) 443-8072.