Bluffton - Van Buren Transmission Line Rebuild Project
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will replace the 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that connects the Bluffton Substation - passing through the Liberty Center Substation - to the Van Buren Substation. The improvements in Grant, Huntington, and Wells counties are essential to ensure continued reliable electric is available for customers. The existing transmission infrastructure has reached an age where it is in need of rebuild and redesign to improve reliability for customers across the region.
Proactively rebuilding the approximately 20-mile transmission line will decrease outages and speed recovery of service when outages occur. The approximately $30 million investment includes removing the existing transmission facilities and replacing them with sturdier facilities of the same voltage. Aging wood poles will be replaced with steel monopoles designed to expand the distance between poles to reduce impacts to landowners.
Project Updates
Early 2019: Construction and restoration on the Bluffton-Liberty Center Transmission Line was completed in Summer 2018. Construction on the Liberty Center-Van Buren Transmission Line is still being constructed, and is expected to be completed by Late 2019. Restoration is expected to be completed by Spring 2020.
Spring 2017: I&M announced the final line route for the Liberty Center - Van Buren portion of the project. The announcement follows an open house held in June, which provided detailed information about the project and provided property owners with the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. The final line route for the Bluffton - Liberty Center portion was announced last fall. Details around the final line route can be viewed on the interactive map above.
Project Releases
Fact Sheet
Timeline
Bluffton - Liberty Center
- June 2016: Initial Project Announcement and Open House
- Late July 2016: Final Line Route Announcement
- Fall 2016 - Early 2017: Right-of-Way Negotiations
- Late 2016: Survey and Engineering Begins
- Feb - April 2017: Tree Clearing
- Summer 2017: Pre-Construction Activities Begin
- Late Summer 2017: Foundation Construction Begins
- Fall 2017: Structure Assembly/ Installation
- Spring 2018: Line Completed/In-Service
- Summer 2018: Restoration Complete
Liberty Center - Van Buren
- June 2016: Initial Project Announcement and Open House
- Late July 2016: Final Line Route Announcement
- Fall 2016 - Fall 2017: Right-of-Way Negotiations
- Early 2017: Survey and Engineering Begins
- Feb - April 2017: Tree Clearing
- Spring 2018: Pre-Construction Activities & Foundation Construction Begins
- Fall 2018: Structure Assembly/ Installation
- Late 2019: Line Completed/In-Service
- Spring 2020: Restoration Complete
Structures
I&M will build new monopole structures ranging between 60 to 75 feet in height. The structures will be placed in the center of a 60-foot wide right-of-way corridor.
I&M is committed to meeting the energy needs of customers while protecting the environment and natural beauty of the region.
*Exact structure, height and right-of-way may vary
* The accompanying map depicts the project area. It should be noted that the map contained on this site is for information purposes only. AEP reserves the right to alter, change, or amend the map at any time without notice and AEP provides no warranty about the accuracy of content. Keep this in mind when reviewing this map. However, AEP will make all attempts to keep this map as accurate as possible. If you have any questions about the accuracy of the current map please Contact Us.
