Hancock County, OH

Transmission Line and Substation Engineering

Client: American Electric Power
Our Role: Design

Two lane rural road lined with power poles and transmission lines stretching into the distance under a bright sky with scattered clouds

American Electric Power (AEP) outsourced transmission line engineering design, material procurement support, construction support, and close-out activities for the Arlington-Blanchard-Carey Project in Hancock County, Ohio, to GFT. The project builds two greenfield substations and eliminates radial transmission lines by converting the Dunkirk–Arlington 34.5 kV circuit to 69 kV and constructing a new transmission line between Arlington Station and a three-way switch outside Hancock-Wood Co-op’s Blanchard Station. Reliability concerns in the Carey area required additional transmission line rebuilds, removal of normally open switches, and installation of a three-breaker ring bus configuration. Detailed engineering design began in 2021, with the final segment anticipated to be placed in service in 2026, creating a less fragmented and more flexible transmission system with more reliable service for the eight delivery points affected.

Key Features

Ten-mile greenfield 69 kV transmission line design.
Over 25 miles of 69 kV transmission line rebuilds.
Short-span construction with horizontal post steel structures and all-dielectric self-supporting fiber installation.
Design supporting distribution underbuilds and joint ownership coordination.

Outcomes

Improved system flexibility and reduced network fragmentation.
Increased reliability for eight delivery points and wholesale customers.
Modernized transmission infrastructure supports long-term regional service needs.