ATC wraps up electric work in Milwaukee’s Zoo Interchange
Transmission line and substation work completed two months ahead of schedule
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. has completed its work in the Zoo Interchange to relocate and erect new electric transmission infrastructure to accommodate the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s interchange expansion plans.
ATC began the transmission line portion of the project in June 2013 to relocate seven overhead 138-kilovolt transmission lines and erect 59 single pole structures to replace 58 lattice towers. Just over 11 miles of new wire were strung from south of Greenfield Avenue along the east side of USH 45/I-894 in West Allis, north to the Zoo Interchange and then west along I-94 to ATC’s Bluemound Substation.
The project also involved modifications at two nearby substations and expansion of the 96th Street Substation, which supports both the new lines for the Zoo Interchange project and ATC’s Western Milwaukee County Electric Reliability Project, which is slated to be complete in spring 2015.
“Residents and commuters were able to watch the transformation over the past year and a half while we removed the old structures, installed the new poles and strung wire across six lanes of traffic – all while the interchange was kept open to motorists,” said Barbara Mikolajczyk, ATC major project manager. “We were able to complete our work more than two months ahead of schedule because there was great communication and collaboration among the DOT and the multiple utilities involved.”
ATC’s restoration work may continue through spring 2015 – removing the former lattice towers and construction mats, and completing final grading of the area.
“Because ATC completed its portion of the project ahead of schedule, that helps our scheduling with other contractors this winter and next spring,” said DOT Construction Project Manager Mike Burns.
The cost of ATC’s Zoo Interchange project work totaled $50 million.