TVA Identifies Preferred Route to Westhaven Substation Site
October 21, 2004
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TVA has identified a preferred route for the proposed new transmission line to serve Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation’s proposed new Westhaven substation.
The 161-kilovolt line, new substation and other improvements are needed to ensure a reliable power supply for the fast-growing area of Middle Tennessee.
About three miles of the 5.5-mile line would follow a route along the existing Mack Hatcher Parkway, which was identified earlier when MTEMC proposed building a Bingham substation. The preferred route for the remaining 2.5 miles of the line is the southern alternative of two routes TVA examined for this section of the project.
“TVA worked closely with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to share as much right-of-way as possible with the Mack Hatcher Parkway extension,” said Roger Sparry, TVA manager of Siting and Environmental Design. “The preferred route will minimize impacts to property owners, existing environmental and historical features and planned development, while keeping costs within reason.”
TVA’s preferred route for the 5.5-mile line begins at MTEMC’s Aspen Grove substation, extends west along the northern side of the existing Mack Hatcher Parkway, crosses Highway 431 and the Harpeth River twice, turns south to Del Rio Pike, turns west following the north side of Del Rio Pike, and turns south crossing Highway 96 to the new MTEMC substation site. (See the map by clicking here)
The Westhaven substation site is located just south of the intersection of Highway 96 and the southern route alternative for the Mack Hatcher Parkway extension.
In addition to working with TDOT, TVA also obtained input from MTEMC, public officials, state agencies, property owners, and environmental and historic groups before making a decision on the route.
TVA will begin design studies for the line immediately and plans to start acquiring easements for the right-of-way in February 2005. Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2005, and TVA and MTEMC plan to complete the improvements by November 2005.
Without the improvements, the area’s projected power demand will exceed electric system supply at about that same time.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely selffinanced. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.5 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact:
Gil Francis, Knoxville, (865) 632-8031
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
