Benton Harbor-RiversideTransmission Improvements Project

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) representatives plan power grid upgrades to improve electric reliability for customers in Berrien County, Michigan. The Benton Harbor-Riverside Transmission Improvements Project upgrades about 4 miles of 34.5-kilovolt transmission line with modern equipment to better serve area customers.

The project involves:

Rebuilding approximately 2 miles of transmission line between Riverside Substation off Paw Paw Avenue and Benton Harbor Water Works Substation off Ridgeway Street

Relocating a half mile of transmission line to the south side of Klock Road, between North 8th Street and Paw Paw Avenue

Rebuilding approximately 1 mile of transmission line between Benton Harbor Water Works Substation and an existing structure near Whitman Drive and State Highway 63
Rebuilding about a quarter mile of transmission line along Graham Avenue near the Renaissance Athletic Club

The project strengthens the local electric transmission system by upgrading the capacity of the power line from vintage 34.5 kilovolt (kV) to modern 69 kV standards. The project also involves replacing aging lattice towers and wooden poles that date back to the 1930s with modern steel poles. Modernizing the line supports the growing demand for electricity, reduces the likelihood of extended power outages and enhances electric reliability for the community.

Project Updates

Crews plan to complete field survey work including environmental surveys that include collecting topographical data such as the location of streams, wetlands and potential habitats for endangered species. Some of the survey work may require crews to place stakes and ribbon within the company’s easement.

The surveys are scheduled to start the week of June 13 and continue through summer, depending on weather and other factors.

O.R. Colan (ORC) serves as I&M’s right-of-way representative for this project. If you want to reach out to a right-of-way agent with immediate questions, please contact Kristen Martin at (269) 588-9957 or kmartin@orcolan.com. Right-of-way agents are limiting in-person visits with customers during this process to ensure the public’s safety and health during the COVID-19 pandemic.