NL Hydro crews have begun work dismantling a section of an old transmission line in Labrador that’s no longer needed.

The work involves the removal of approximately 50 km of line and its associated towers and wooden poles.

The L1301 transmission line, which spans from Churchill Falls to Muskrat Falls, and is part of a system that feeds the east coast of Labrador, was completed in 1977. It was rendered redundant with the completion of the connection between Muskrat Falls and Happy Valley in 2021.

Decommissioning, including the dismantling, removal and disposal of material, is expected to take five years.

Work on the first 50 km of the line began September 6 and is expected to continue daily into November as weather permits.