American Electric Power’s (NYSE:AEP) Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) on May 18 said that it expects to complete the estimated $92m, 138-kV Granger-Benton Harbor Transmission Line Rebuild Project in early 2022.
The project includes rebuilding about 46 miles of line and replacing existing lattice structures with steel monopoles, the company said, adding that most of the line will be rebuilt using I&M’s existing right of way (ROW).
According to a project fact sheet, the existing infrastructure in the area has reached an age where it needs to be replaced.
Upgrading the equipment will provide a reliable power source for customers for years to come by reducing the number of outages, shortening restoration times, and supporting future economic growth, the company said in its statement.
The line travels north out of Granger, Ind., across the state line into the St. Joseph and Benton Harbor areas of Michigan, the company said.
Project construction will occur in these four phases:
- Phase 1 Granger, Ind., to Niles, Mich. – spring 2019 to early 2020
- Phase 2 St. Joseph, Mich., area – summer 2019 to early 2020
- Phase 3 Benton Harbor to Niles, Mich. – early 2020 to summer 2021
- Phase 4 Benton Harbor area – summer 2020 to fall 2021
I&M added that its crews and contractors will conduct survey work along the line route periodically through the end of the year, and that pre-construction activities are anticipated to begin next spring.
