West ValleyUpgrades Project

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is upgrading the transmission line that connects the South Haven Substation in South Haven, MI to the Riverside Substation in Benton Harbor, MI. The improvements in Van Buren and Berrien counties are essential to ensure continued reliable electricity 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. To upgrade the line, aging wood poles will be replaced with steel monopoles. Rebuilding approximately 25 miles of 69-kilovolt line decreases outages and speeds recovery of service when outages occur.

Project Updates

Fall 2017: I&M announced the final line route for the West Valley Upgrades Project. The announcement follows a comprehensive routing study and an open house held in June, which provided information about the project and provided property owners with the opportunity to ask questions and provide input. The final proposed line route can be viewed on the interactive map above.

Project Releases

Valley Area Improvements Project News Release, June 8, 2017 (PDF)

Timeline

Structures

I&M will replace aging wood poles with steel monopole structures ranging between 70 and 90-feet in height.

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