CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Appalachian Power representatives and the utility’s affiliate, AEP West Virginia Transmission Co., Inc., plan upgrades to the electric transmission system serving customers in Kanawha County, Putnam County and the city of Nitro.
The Bancroft-Turner Transmission Line Rebuild Project involves upgrading approximately 15 miles of transmission line. Company representatives are reviewing route options to rebuild the power line through the city of Nitro as development has significantly increased since the line was originally built.
The power line rebuild begins at Bancroft Substation located off Winfield Road near Shawnee Estates and travels south, crossing the Kanawha River near Interstate 64 before entering the city of Nitro. The upgrades continue east toward Cross Lanes and end at a transmission tower located off Route 622 near Institute.
“The Bancroft-Turner transmission line dates back to the 1920s,” said George Porter, Appalachian Power spokesperson. “The upgrades involve the use of stronger, modern equipment to help ensure reliable electric service for our customers.”
Company representatives invite landowners to a virtual open house at AppalachianPower.com/Bancroft-Turner to learn more about the project and provide feedback to the project team. Hosting the open house online complies with the social distancing recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Landowners within the project area can expect to receive a packet in the mail that includes additional project details and a comment card they can return by mail with their feedback.
“The online open house and comment cards allow us to gather input while keeping the public’s health and safety our top priority,” Porter said. “We encourage landowners to take advantage of these resources or give us a call to ask questions and provide feedback.”
The project team plans to use input from the virtual open house, the comment cards and additional field work to determine a power line route that minimizes impact on the community and environment. Company representatives expect construction to begin in fall 2021 and conclude by fall 2023.
Additional information about the project is available on the website.