Contractors in hard hats were sent aloft in a cherry picker during the removal of powerlines spanning the Whanganui River.
The removal of the six overhead supply lines was done on the morning of March 24, Powerco general manager service delivery and system operations Ian Skipworth said.
It had been delayed to get input from Te Pou Tupua and local hapū, under Whanganui River settlement legislation.
The lines were lowered from the Whanganui East side into the river. They were then cut at each end and wound on to drums at the Hatrick Wharf Substation.
Being up high above the water could have been exciting for staff in the cherry picker, but Skipworth said it was just a normal day at the office for the linesmen.
It took four hours to drop the lines. After that nine Downer contractors stayed on to clean up at each end of the work site.
There were also six Traffic Safe staff to manage vehicle safety, and three Coastguard personnel who managed river traffic. A few people gathered to watch.
The work is part of Powerco's upgrade of network in this area.
The power supply that used to run overhead across the river now runs underground - from Purua St, along Anzac Pde, across the city bridge and back along the riverbank to the substation.
Weather permitting, the power poles on the Whanganui East side will be removed this week, Skipworth said.