Some Central Coast residents could be seeing unusual sights during the next few weeks, as a utility company works to upgrade the region’s power grid.
PG&E is starting a project Monday to upgrade its transmission lines west of Highway 101. The majority of the project is in Santa Maria. Much of it is along Railroad Avenue, near the Santa Maria Levee Trail on the northern end, moving south along Railroad to West Cook Street.
It will be increasing the height of nine towers, and re-tensioning or replacing transmission lines in a four mile stretch of the power system in the area.
The two-month project include the use of helicopters to fly in some of the equipment being used for the upgrade. Property owners within a mile of the project have been notified.