Benton Harbor - RiversideTransmission Improvements Project

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) representatives plan power grid upgrades to improve electric reliability for customers in Berrien County, Michigan. The Benton Harbor-Riverside Transmission Improvements Project upgrades about 4 miles of 34.5-kilovolt transmission line with modern equipment to better serve area customers.

The project involves:

• Rebuilding approximately 2 miles of transmission line between Riverside Substation off Paw Paw Avenue and Benton Harbor Water Works Substation off Ridgeway Street
• Relocating a half mile of transmission line to the south side of Klock Road, between North 8th Street and Paw Paw Avenue
• Rebuilding approximately 1 mile of transmission line between Benton Harbor Water Works Substation and an existing structure near Whitman Drive and State Highway 63
• Rebuilding about a quarter mile of transmission line along Graham Avenue near the Renaissance Athletic Club

The project strengthens the local electric transmission system by upgrading the capacity of the power line from vintage 34.5 kilovolt (kV) to modern 69 kV standards. The project also involves replacing aging lattice towers and wooden poles that date back to the 1930s with modern steel poles. Modernizing the line supports the growing demand for electricity, reduces the likelihood of extended power outages and enhances electric reliability for the community.

Early 2024: Construction along Upton Drive is scheduled to begin mid-January and conclude in mid-February, though weather or other factors could cause a delay. Please follow traffic control measures present in the work area, including signage and flaggers.

O.R. Colan (ORC) continues to serve as I&M's right-of-way representative for this project during construction. ORC agents maintain contact with affected landowners as construction progresses to answer any questions and provide construction schedule updates, if necessary.