Appalachian Power names preferred route for Lynchburg electric u - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

Appalachian Power on Friday, announced its preferred route for a planned electric upgrade for Lynchburg and Campbell County.

The project is estimated at $32 million, and would connect the company's south Lynchburg and Brush Tavern substations, to the new Lynbrook substation in Campbell County, through a 138-kilovolt power line.

It would help reduce the burden on what APCo describes as "a significant, growing amount of load in the south Lynchburg area."

APCo says the preferred route would run 9.3 miles:

• Exits Brush Tavern Substation near the Consolidated Shoe office and proceeds in a southeastern direction crossing Timberlake Road (Route 460 Business)
• Passes west of the Farfields subdivision
• Runs parallel with Route 460 Bypass eventually crossing Route 460 Bypass in the vicinity of the Leesville Road interchange
• After crossing Leesville Road, the route proceeds generally southeastward through wooded and open lands for approximately 1.5 miles
• It then turns northeastward, where it will connect the new Lynbrook Substation, then continues northeastward until it intersects an existing Appalachian Power transmission line right of way that parallels the Norfolk Southern Railway right of way
• It utilizes this existing transmission right of way for approximately 3.1 miles, passing the Lynchburg Regional Airport, crossing Wards Road (Route 29), and paralleling Russell Woods Drive before reaching the existing George Street Substation
• From the George Street Substation it proceeds northward along an existing electric transmission line right of way for approximately 2.8 miles to the South Lynchburg Substation.
• Along the way it crosses the Liberty University campus, U.S. Route 460/29, and the Norfolk Southern Railway.

APCo plans to build the line using single utility poles, and some H-frames that are between 80 and 100 feet tall.  There would be a 100-foot wide right of way along the route.

Applachian Power says the decision on its preferred route comes after public comment sessions, and it plans to file a request with the State Corporation Commission later this year to begin the project.

APCo hope to have the project finished by 2017.