Crews to use helicopter for Badger Coulee Transmission Line Project
Work will include pulling wires between poles
MADISON, Wis. – A helicopter will be used beginning this week to assist Badger Coulee Project construction crews with work along Interstate 90 in Dane and Columbia counties.
Helicopter crews will begin pulling wires along the line this week. The route generally follows Interstate 90 in this area. Helicopters will be used intermittently along the route. Crews also will conduct additional aerial work along Highway 78 on a lower voltage transmission line during this time. Work is expected to take a day or two for each location and could include weekday or weekend flight times. The flight schedule will vary and is subject to change based on weather.
“People in the area can expect to see a helicopter flying approximately 100 feet above the ground along the line,” said Charles Gonzales, American Transmission Co. senior local relations representative.
The helicopter work along Interstate 90 and Highway 78 will require intermittent traffic stops during off-peak hours. ATC is coordinating with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement to manage work that may impact travelers in these areas. Use of helicopters will decrease construction time and minimize environmental impacts to the area.
Note to media: For safety reasons, viewing from road and highway shoulders is prohibited. This will be strictly enforced by law enforcement personnel. Project maps are available at www.badgercoulee.com.
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About American Transmission Co. American Transmission Co. is a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates the electric transmission system in portions of the Upper Midwest. Formed in 2001 as the nation’s first multi-state transmission-only utility, ATC has invested $3.8 billion to improve the adequacy and reliability of its infrastructure. ATC now has $4 billion in assets, including more than 9,540 miles of transmission lines and 545 substations. The company is a member of the MISO regional transmission organization, and provides nondiscriminatory service to all customers, supporting effective competition in energy markets without favoring any market participant. For more information, visit our website at www.atcllc.com.
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