I've had an opportunity to help engineer a number of projects for Dominion Virginia Power, and have recently been working on the largest and most complex project yet—a new 230kV transmission line and electrical substation at a military installation in Arlington. This important project, soon to be completed, will help improve electrical service to the base and nearby neighborhoods and provide for future growth in the region.

Our Biggest Challenge: The Permitting Process

The transmission line runs along both federal and state property, and along public roadways. Our team created digital 3-D imagery (shown below) to show the installation of the underground utilities and substation design. This visualization tool assisted Dominion Virginia Power in addressing the diverse concerns involved with constructing the network loop within the highly populated area. Challenges included excavating and creating a stable foundation, maintaining traffic flow on busy streets during construction, carefully designing the substation to accommodate the electrical equipment, and respecting the historic architectural fabric of the base—a National Historic Landmark.

As with most major engineering projects today, the permitting process was among the most demanding aspects of the work. In addition to Dominion team members and base representatives, the effort required coordinating with a long list of agencies and stakeholders. Input and approvals were needed from many organizations, including some unique to the area—the Pentagon, the National Capital Planning Commission, Arlington Cemetery, and the U.S. Fine Arts Commission, among many others.

One Firm—Multiple Services

Internally at Dewberry, we drew from architectural and engineering expertise in several offices, including Fairfax, Richmond, and Gainesville, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Peoria, Illinois. This was one of my favorite aspects of the project, as I had a chance to work with many Dewberry employees from throughout the firm. Our professionals complemented a knowledgeable and resourceful staff at Dominion, who understood the technical issues as well as the extensive coordination needed to secure the many permits and approvals. Solid teamwork was the key to delivering this project, which will help Dominion deliver improved reliability and redundancy in the Arlington area.