Crews have been working along SR 15, south of Milford, and installed an access road to the construction site where monopoles will be installed for the NIPSCO Reynolds Topeka Line

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — During the past weeks motorists in the area may have noticed paths cut through corn and bean fields and survey markers in a southwest to northeast direction. It is the start of NIPSCO’s Reynolds Topeka Line construction.

Larry Graham, NIPSCO public relations, stated right of way survey work, erosion control barriers in construction sites and access roads are being installed in Kosciusko County. These access roads will provide short travel to the project site. Actual construction of the monopole construction towers in the county and continuing northeast to the Topeka substation will not begin until early 2017. According to Graham the project work has begun in Reynolds, in White County and will go northeast to the transmission substation in Burr Oak, in Marshall County. Construction work is not expected to proceed past Burr Oak this year.

Graham noted the next phases will be the boring of foundation holes, pouring of the foundation, installation of the monopoles and then the wires. Construction is expected to be completed by late June 2018.

According to a project update newsletter the access roads are both temporary and permanent. The temporary roads will be removed and the area restored following construction. Once the work is completed the right of way areas will be restored to as close to original condition as possible, matting will be removed and the area graded. Where necessary, areas will be seeded to establish appropriate vegetation.

The Reynolds Topeka Electric System Improvement Project is a six-year project to strengthen Indiana’s electric system and provide improved access to wind and solar renewable energy services. The new 100 mile electrical transmission line will connect NIPSCO’s Reynolds substation, Burr Oak substation and Hiple substation, near Topeka.

The construction of the line will create jobs, enhance system reliability, offer environmental benefits and improve access to lower cost electricity for customers. This is one of 17 other similar projects occurring across the Midwest.

The project began in the winter of 2012 when the study area was defined, followed by several rounds of public open houses to present the route network in the first part of 2013. It was in August 2013 the final route selection was made and right of entry permission was solicited. Permitting for the project and right of way acquisition took place in the later part of 2013 and into 2014. Construction began in June 2016.

An interactive map showing the complete route can be found here.