WUHAN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- A section of the power grid traversing the Yangtze River in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, is to be dismantled to ensure navigational safety, local authorities said Wednesday.
Workers began dismantling power lines Wednesday on the transmission project connecting the transformer substation at Guoding Mountain on the northern bank of the Yangtze River to the one at Luojia Mountain in the southern bank of the river in Wuchang district, said Bao Yuchuan, vice manager of State Grid's Wuhan branch.
The transmission project, with a length of 1,722 meters, which went into use in 1960, was the first power transmission facility across the river.
Eight tugboats, each with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes, lined up on the river to drag the power lines down to the river surface. Navigation is suspended for four hours every day for the demolition work.
The two transformer substations, each 135 meters high, will be blown up, said Bao.
"The power transmission project has reached end of its service life and impedes navigation. Besides, new power lines are in use," he said.
Demolition will be finished before the end of this month, he said. Enditem
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