By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The heavy haul components for the Guam Power Authority's Ukudu power plant have arrived and are ready for transport to the project site in Dededo, the contractor Doosan Ukudu Power announced today.
The shipment of the materials took the $562-million power plant project to the next step. The 198MW combined cycle power plant will replace GPA’s aged, decades-old generating plants and allow the agency to diversify its energy portfolio with renewable and stored energy.
“The new Ukudu Power Plant is the cornerstone of GPA’s Clean Energy Master Plan which will lead to a more efficient power system, including adding more and more renewables and ultimately sustain, and lower costs for our ratepayers,”
said John Benavente, GPA general manager.
GPA and Doosan broke ground on the project on July 21.
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The transports will begin in December and will continue through the first months of the new year and be completed in May 2023.
The transport includes the use of self-propelled modular trailers carrying heavy haul components for the plant, some of which have arrived and are being stored at the Port Authority of Guam in Piti.
To prepare for the transport, road work, including median demolition and removal, traffic signal span wire adjustments, utility line adjustments and tree trimming began this week; median demolition work along Rt. 1 will occur during non-peak hours, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day or Saturday and Sunday. Tree trimming is scheduled for Dec. 11 at 9 a.m. in the Hagatna area adjacent to Bank of Hawaii.
Subsequently, transports will take place at night, traveling at a speed of 1mph, and will be accompanied by a Guam Police Department escort; with assistance along the route from private companies like Smithbridge, Docomo, GTA, IT&E and Pacific Data Systems, as well as government agencies including the Department of Public Works, the Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority. The public will be notified once the first transport is scheduled.
Doosan Ukudu Power LLC, which is in charge of the transport project, said it has created a comprehensive communications plan to inform the public throughout the eight-month period, including the creation of the website poweronthemove.org, as well as Power on the Move Guam Facebook page and announcements on radio, television, newspaper and road signage.
“My team continues to review traffic management and communication plans from the transport team to ensure the public is kept informed, to keep drivers and the public safe and to make sure we protect the government of Guam assets,” said Vince Arriola, DPW general manager.
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