Power line upgrade begins in Cedar Rapids on Wilson Avenue SW

Cedar Rapids - Motorists traveling on and near Wilson Avenue SW may have been wondering about large Xs painted on utility poles in recent months.

While some may have thought the markings were preparations for widening the east-west route, the real reason has become evident this week.

ITC Midwest, which owns the high voltage electric distribution system, is replacing the poles and upgrading a two-mile portion of the existing system to improve efficiency and reliability, according to Liz Hunt, manager of marketing and communications for ITC Holdings, corporate parent of Cedar Rapids-based ITC Midwest.

'The project involves the 34,500-volt line between the Emerald Isle substation (150 38th Street Dr. SE) and the Beverly substation (5245 26th St. SW) in preparation for the 69,000-volt operation in 2019,” Hunt said. 'We anticipate this work will be completed in the spring of 2018.”

M.J. Electric of Iron Mountain, Mich., will be handling the upgrade for ITC Midwest, which acquired the high-voltage distribution system from Alliant Energy in December 2007.

Hunt said new wood utility poles will replace existing poles except where the line makes a turn. Steel poles will be used to anchor the lines when they change direction.

The project involves high voltage lines along 12th Street SW until they reach Wilson Avenue SW. The line runs west along the south side of Wilson until it reaches the CRANDIC railroad tracks and then south to 33rd Avenue SW.

Hunt said progress on the project will depend on the weather.

ITC Midwest has rebuilt nearly 330 miles of 34,500-volt power line. The company operates more than 6,600 miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri.

ITC Midwest has participated in seven new substations constructed in the area - six jointly with Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light - and one alone.

The company also has been involved with five existing substations that were expanded and/or rebuilt.