ATC energizes new 138,000-volt transmission line in Upper Michigan
Holmes-Old Mead Road project will boost area electric reliability
DE PERE, Wis. – After years of planning, regulatory review and construction, a 58-mile transmission line has been placed in service between the Holmes Substation in Menominee County and the Old Mead Road Substation in Escanaba, Mich.
The project is designed to help address the unique needs of the electricity supply system in the area. “Putting this new transmission line into service will greatly benefit our customers throughout the region,” said Brett French, ATC external affairs manager. “The project reflects ATC’s commitment to invest in strengthening the U.P.’s electric transmission system.”
The western half of the route shares a corridor with an existing transmission line, and the eastern half is located along an abandoned railroad corridor owned by the state. The state departments of Transportation and Natural Resources played a key role in coordinating the eastern section of the line. ATC built a multipurpose recreational trail in the rail corridor between Hermansville and Wells Township, which will be turned over to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources when completed later this fall.
The authorized cost for the project was $120 million; the project was completed on time and under budget.
