CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Appalachian Power held an open house Wednesday to answer questions about an upcoming improvement project in Boone and Kanawha counties.
The Boone-South Charleston Improvements Project will include rebuilding 18 miles of 46-kilovolt transmission line to 69 kV lines, upgrading towers and relocating a substation.
The company and its affiliate, West Virginia Transmission, Co., said the project is needed as growth in the region has strained existing infrastructure.
At an open house session at Ruthlaw Elementary School, Matthew Thompson, senior communications consultant for Appalachian Power, said some of the lines currently in place have been in place for 100 years.
“There have been a number of technological improvements over the past decade,” he said. “These are old systems.”
The preliminary study said crews will work on lines from Ashford to South Charleston. New towers will also be built, and the company may consider right-of-way procedures if needed.
“You’ll see people up on bucket trucks, you’ll see people underground working on structures,” Thompson said.
Thompson explained there may be environmental issues involving electromagnetic fields and power lines, but those cases are limited
“It just matters about the property and the lines overhead,” he said.
Appalachian Power may need to build access roads so crews can work on construction and later services. The company said property owners will be consulted to determine the “most practical” routes.
Construction is expected to begin at the end of 2018. Thompson said the company expects the project to be completed in late 2020.
The project is expected to bring Boone and Kanawha counties $1.5 million annually in total tax revenue.