A collection of new utility poles sits along SR 15 near Canal Street in Warsaw. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Northern Indiana Public Service Company has begun replacing utility poles across 24 miles in parts of Kosciusko County.

The replacement of 561 poles begins this week and includes parts of SR 15 and North Detroit Street, where new poles can be seen resting along the roadside. Much of the work will be southwest of Warsaw and will continue for much of the year.

NIPSCO plans to invest more than $15 million back into the energy infrastructure in Kosciusko County as part of this upgrade, ensuring safe, reliable service to customers and communities in the county for the future, according to Megan Henning, with NIPSCO Communications & Public Affairs.

This project is part of NIPSCO’s ongoing plan to modernize the energy infrastructure across northern Indiana. It began in 2015.

The improvements will provide safer and more reliable electric service by eliminating recurring system outages as well as supporting future business expansion in northern Indiana., Henning said.

NIPSCO oversees more than 50 wide-reaching electric system modernization projects a year.

Work in Kosciusko County will consist of a partial rebuild of the existing electric 69kV transmission and 12.5kV distribution system in portions of Kosciusko County. The upgrade supports and benefits Warsaw, Mentone, Palestine and surrounding areas.

The upgrade will also include the replacement of additional hardware, equipment and substation relays along the circuit to support continued system safety and reliability to customers in Kosciusko County, Henning said.

There will be some minimal service interruptions as crews switch over to the new system. Customers that are directly affected by the electric service interruption will be notified ahead of time to plan accordingly.  

Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and is expected to last until December, weather permitting.

Robert Henry Corp., South Bend, and ARC American, Wakarusa, are the contractors for the work. Some evening and weekend work may occur throughout the duration of the upgrade to honor customer and project schedules.

Detour routes and signage will be posted ahead of time. Flaggers will be on-site directing traffic during construction hours.

Improvements to NIPSCO utility lines are highlighted in blue. Much of the work will be in and southwest of Warsaw. Map provided.

One of NIPSCO’s two contractors for the project is ARC American, of Wakarusa, which was on-site Tuesday, Jan. 19. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.