Tower Construction

STG has completed microwave tower installations for United Utilities, Inc.‘s DeltaNet Project in the following villages, all in the Southwest part of the state: Akiak, Aniak, Bethel, Chefornak, Eek, Hooper Bay, Kalskag, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, Marshall, Mekoryuk, Newtok, Nightmute, NunamIqua, Quinhagak, St. Mary’s, Scammon Bay, Toksook Bay, Tuluksak, Tuntutuliak, and Tununak. DeltaNet was designed to provide villages across the southwestern part of Alaska with improved communication abilities.

The infrastructure of the DeltaNet Project includes microwave towers of various heights erected in key locations, along with control buildings to house the electronics, so as to form an integrated communication network. STG was selected to prepare the foundations for towers and buildings and to assist in the erection of these structures. The foundations vary in design from driven and drilled steel piles to concrete poured directly onto bedrock and secured with drilled rock anchors. Tower locations range from a lot within a village to sites on the summits of nearby mountains.

The ambitious project already is helping enhance not only telephone and internet services to villages in Western Alaska, but also cellular phone service. The system is being used by village clinics to send “real-time” information and data on their patients to hospitals in Bethel and Anchorage for diagnostic support and feedback.  It currently exists as one of the largest, remote broadband networks in North America.

“STG installed piles for a new watering-point building in Nunapitchuk, as part of a project funded by Village Safe Water (VSW). Although vertical when installed, over time, two of the piles moved so that they were no longer vertical. STG replaced the two defective piles at no cost to VSW or Nunapitchuk.  STG was awarded the original bid to install a pile foundation for a water tank in Nunapitchuk in late summer, and acting very quickly, was able to get the foundation materials to Bethel on the last barge of the season.  In their dealings with VSW in Nunapitchuk, STG has been straightforward and responsible.”

Lynn Marino, P.E.
Village Safe Water

Featured Project: DeltaNet Broadband Microwave Network

DeltaNet, completed by STG for United Utilities, Inc. in 2008, is a 34-site broadband network designed to provide villages in the southwestern portion of the state with an array of improved communication abilities, including wireless phone service and broadband features. Residents of these villages are now able to utilize cell phones for convenience and safety and able to connect to the internet without the unreliability and slow speed of dial-up service.