PG&E

Mudslide in Orinda Threatens Stability of Hill, Transmission Tower

Crews in Orinda on Sunday raced to shore up the soil beneath a transmission tower after a recent mudslide threatened to knock over the soaring structure, according to a PG&E spokesperson.

A number of engineering teams utilized helicopters and other equipment to survey the area as well as install large bags of dirt and rocks to protect the tower, which is located in the hills above Gateway Boulevard just north of Highway 24, according to PG&E.

The mudslide was originally discovered on Jan. 29, according to PG&E. Since that time, experts and engineers formulated a plan to stabilize the hill and the tower after the mudslide managed to shift the nearby landscape. Those plans were executed on Sunday.

The protective measures were taken "out of an abundance of caution," according to PG&E, and there are no homes in the vicinity of the tower that could be damaged in the event that it topples.

PG&E customers in the area were notified of the repair operations, and power was not impacted by the repair work. In the event that power does go out, PG&E said they have back-up lines that will take over.

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