About the Overall Railroad Transmission Line Rebuild Project

The UI Railroad Transmission Line Upgrade Project rebuilds UI’s transmission lines along the 25 miles of the Metro North Railroad(MNR) corridor between Fairfield and West Haven. This includes installation of approximately 500 new foundation supported galvanized transmission poles, upgrading of conductor size and installing sectionalizing switches at nearby substations. This project will enhance the structural integrity and reliability of the high voltage transmission lines along the MNR corridor allowing UI to continue to provide safe, reliable electric service to our customers for years to come.

Project Purpose and Need
Benefits to region and our customers

The upgrades will improve the reliability and resiliency of the transmission system, ensuring that the safe and reliable transmission of power is maintained throughout Fairfield and New Haven County in accordance with Federal reliability standards.


Project Map

Project Scope

  • Staking, vegetation clearing, installation and removal of access roads and work pads
  • Installation of drilled foundations supporting monopoles and conductors
  • Installation of new sectionalizing switches at substations to increase reliability and operational flexibility
  • Removal of bonnet structures (top of poles which hold the power lines) on MNR Catenaries (cables which hold the lines)
  • Site Restoration

Timing

Construction start of the first phase: Dec. 2017

Estimated in-service date of final phase: 2028 Q3



Construction Scope


115kV Transmission Line Upgrade

  • Completed, in service 12/24/2018

Crossing Replacement

  • Completed, in service 6/7/2018

Stratford 115-kV Transmission Line Upgrade Project consisting of the removal and relocation of northern and southern sections of existing 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line structures from Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) catenary structures within the Metro-North Railroad corridor to new 115-kV transmission line structures to be located within the existing ConnDOT right of way and upgrade of 115-kV conductors extending approximately 1.9 miles from UI’s Baird Substation to just west of the Housatonic River in Stratford, Connecticut, and related substation improvements

  • In construction: Nov 2019 to Aug 2021
  • Energized: February 2021

Rebuild 9.5 miles from Milvon Substation (Milford, CT) to West River Substation (New Haven, CT).

Relocate the transmission lines off the existing CT DOT railroad catenary bonnets and install on independent monopoles with new insulators, hardware and conductor on new monopole structures in the railroad corridor.

  • Engineering August 2020 – Q3 2022
  • Construction Start Q4 2023
  • In-service   Q4 2028

Additional Links and Documents

More information is available in the Document Library


UI is working to understand the impacts for putting the project on the north side due to the CSC decision, engineering efforts will begin immediately. Additional Links and Documents

Additional Links and Documents

Construction Process

UI is committed to working cooperatively with our customers, neighbors, community leaders and regulators as we improve reliability while minimizing disruption to the environment and community. We have a dedicated team of public outreach liaisons who will be involved throughout the duration of the project to answer any questions you may have.

Below are the stages of the project construction process that you may see in your community.

 

1) Laying matting and building access roads for construction vehicles while protecting the area

2) Tree clearing – trimming "danger trees" that may cause service interruption

3) Drilling foundations which will support the new galvanized steel poles

4) Setting the bolt cage for the foundation structure

5) Pouring concrete for the foundations

6) Final concrete cap for the steel monopoles

7) Setting the poles into the foundation

8) Stringing the wire (conductor) onto the poles

9) Restoration - grading, seeding & mulch. Access roads removed.

Updated May 2020

Railroad Transmission Line Upgrade Video

Permitting

UI is designing the Project to avoid and minimize negative impacts to the community and the environment. Early Project planning efforts included the completion of a set of resource assessments to clarify important planning considerations such as water resources; soil characteristics; cultural resources; and sensitive plant and animal species. Active regulatory coordination and reviews preceded numerous permitting efforts and are ongoing through the construction phase of the Project. UI has secured the necessary authorizations reviews and permits from agencies across federal, state and local administration agencies. Consultations and permits have been pursued from the following agencies for the Project:

Federal

  1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  4. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

State of Connecticut

  1. Connecticut Siting Council (CSC)
  2. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CTDEEP)
  3. Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Local and Regional

  1. Towns of Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Milford, Orange, West Haven & New Haven

Document Library

Fairfield to Congress Substation, Bridgeport

Title Date
Fairfield to Congress Fact Sheet 07/10/2024
Due Diligence 04/12/2024
Jim Cole Op Ed January 2024 01/22/2024
Fairfield to Congress - Real Estate Glossary 11/29/2023
Importance of a Strong Electric Grid Op-Ed 11/01/2023
Public Meeting Postcard (003) 01/13/2023
Open House Postcard 01/13/2023
Public Meeting Postcard 01/13/2023


Milvon to West River 115 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project

Title Date
Hearing Mailing 02/25/2022
Open House Postcard 02/25/2022
Right of Way Cross Sections 02/22/2022
Transcript: Milvon to West River Transmission Open House Video 01/18/2022
Transcript: Milvon to West River Transmission Line Upgrade Project Video 01/18/2022
CT DEEP Natural Diversity Database Species Protection Best Management Practices 12/23/2021
FAQ Sheet - Milvon to West River 12/20/2021
Visual Simulations as shown in the Municipal Consultation filing on 11/28/2021 11/28/2021
400-Scale MCF Project Mapping 10/14/2021
Phase 4 - Milvon to West River Fact Sheet 09/04/2020


General Information

Title Date
Typical Structure Foundation Details 12/23/2021
Connecticut Siting Council Process 12/23/2021
Design with Community in Mind 11/22/2021
Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) 11/22/2021
Permitting: Environmental and Regulatory 11/22/2021
Comparison of Underground and Overhead Power Lines 11/22/2021
Phase 3 - HRX to Baird Fact Sheet 03/17/2021
Phase 3 - Raymark/Contract Plating Info sheet 05/01/2020


How the Electric Delivery System Works

The electric grid consists of high-voltage transmission lines and low-voltage distribution lines that transport electricity from power generation plants to community areas that need electricity.





Project/Construction Updates


Fairfield to Congress Substation, Bridgeport

Project Updates - The application for Certificate of Public Need and Environmental Compatibility has been submitted to the Connecticut Siting Council(CSC). For more information see the CSC website at Docket No 516 (ct.gov). The Siting Council made a final decision on Feb. 15 changing the route to the northern side of the CTDOT tracks between Fairfield and Ash Creek. Redesign will begin immediately and will be communicated as soon as it is available. UI will make every effort to expedite the process but anticipates a new design will be available by Q1 2025.

Cornerstone Energy Services, Inc. ("Cornerstone”) is a trusted land acquisition contractor currently working on our behalf. Cornerstone’s Land Agent Team will be working alongside UI’s Land Management Department and Project Team throughout the Land Rights Acquisition phase of the due diligence process as a result of the CT Siting Council’s approval of the Hannon-Morissette alternative on the Fairfield to Congress Transmission Project.  

Now and in the upcoming months, Cornerstone will make contact efforts to property owners in Fairfield and Southport parcels to request Right of Entry permission in order for UI and their contractors to complete due diligence tasks such as field studies, soil tests, environmental analysis, review of current infrastructure, etc.  Land Agents will be reaching out via phone, email or in-person to discuss the details related to their due diligence and will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the project. 

Further info about our Land Agents contractor, can be found here:  Cornerstone Energy Services (cornerstoneenergyinc.com)

Construction Update – Detailed engineering stage, Construction expected to begin in 2025-2026

Milvon to West River

Project update – Completed the Connecticut Siting Council approval process, Docket No 508 (ct.gov)

Construction Update - As we head into 2024, maintaining the east to west trajectory we will be working in New Haven and West Haven with efforts focusing on vegetation removal, matting, temporary and permanent road construction, drilling and pouring foundations, installing structures, and stringing conductor.

Read what types of activities you will see throughout the phases of construction.

Project Overview

Get in touch

T: 1-888-848-3697
E: [email protected]


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