New Buffalo - BridgmanTransmission Line Rebuild Project

The New Buffalo-Bridgman Transmission Line Rebuild Project involves rebuilding about 21 miles of 69-kilovolt transmission line running between four area substations.

The project involves:

Rebuilding about 7 miles of power line from New Buffalo Substation, off East Clay Street, to Three Oaks Substation, off Hickory Street.
Rebuilding about 6 miles of power line from Three Oaks Substation to Lakeside Substation, off West East Road.
Rebuilding about 8 miles of power line from Lakeside Substation to Bridgman Substation, off Red Arrow Highway.

The project strengthens the local electric transmission system by replacing aging poles and wires from the 1960s with modern equipment. The upgrades improve the line's operational performance by reducing the need for frequent maintenance, lessening the likelihood of power outages and speeding recovery of service in the event outages occur.

Current project plans call for construction to begin early 2026 and end fall 2027.

Project Updates

May 2024: Residents can expect to see crews from DLZ beginning soil boring activities soon. These activities take place along the roadside. Crews plan to start near the City of Bridgman and work south along the power line route.

Proposed Alternate Route Constraints Map

Based on community feedback, the project team explored conceptual route alternatives near East Road, U.S. 12, the railroad corridor and Red Arrow Highway. I&M representatives considered and reviewed suggested routes and determined the use of the existing corridor is still the best solution for the project. Relocating the transmission line from its current location requires acquiring and clearing a new 60-foot right-of-way, creating a second utility corridor where one does not currently exist. Additional areas of concern include impacts to conservation easements, tree clearing in undeveloped forested areas, insufficient access for construction and future maintenance, and incompatible land use, requiring the removal of residential and commercial structures. Areas with excessive environmental, engineering and constructability concerns were not considered.