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Berlin to Dummer (W179) Line Rebuild Project

Why Are We Doing This Project?

Recent inspections and engineering analysis of the W179 transmission line revealed that many of the structures were in poor condition due to their age, woodpecker damage, insect damage and pole rot.

The W179 transmission line had 175 structures. Of these, 5 were already weathering steel and did not require replacement. This project replaced the remaining 170 structures with weathering steel structures of a similar design. In addition, the conductor (wire) was replaced, and fiber optic cable, known as Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), was installed the entire length of the line. This project also replaced poles along the Pontook Tap, a 200-foot-long power line that connects the W179 main line to the Pontook Station in Milan.

This maintenance was part of our ongoing investments to deliver reliable energy to our customers and communities.

Where Is The Work Being Done?

This work took place within the existing right-of-way (powerline corridor) of the W179 line, a 115-kilovolt (kV) line built in 1947. This line is 16 miles long and runs from the Berlin Eastside Substation in Berlin to the Paris Substation in Dummer.

The W179 line starts at the Berlin Eastside Substation in Berlin and ends at the Paris Substation in Dummer. Read the project plans summary for additional detail.

This transmission line crosses the following roads:

Berlin
Route 16 (Riverside Drive), East Milan Road, Success Pond Road 

Milan
State Garage Road, Route 110B (Milan Hill Road)

Dummer
Route 110A (Muzzey Hill Road)

When Is The Work Being Done?

  • Local permitting: Fourth quarter 2022 through second quarter 2023
  • State permitting: Fourth quarter 2022 through second quarter 2023
  • Federal permitting: Fourth quarter 2022 through second quarter 2023
  • Construction start date: Second quarter 2023 (anticipated)     
  • Projected in-service date: October 2024

Construction Updates

The photo above was taken between Route 110B in Milan and Route 110A in Dummer, showing access roads and recently replaced structures within the powerline corridor.

Week of September 2

We are happy to report all construction and restoration activities on the Berlin to Dummer (W179) Line Rebuild Project are now complete.

While site-specific restoration continues with private landowners as necessary, construction crews have now demobilized off the project.

We greatly appreciate your patience and cooperation during this important effort to improve and strengthen the reliability of the electric system here in New Hampshire.

Community Outreach

We're committed to engaging municipal officials, residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders about upcoming project activities through municipal briefings, mailings, site meetings, virtual meetings and door-to-door outreach.

We utilize a variety of outreach methods to ensure that all customers and property owners along our transmission lines receive adequate and timely information about our projects. For this project, we sent periodic updates as letters mailed directly to all stakeholders, as well as a combination of the following additional methods:

Commitment to Safety

We take every safety precaution while working in local communities, and all people working on the construction project carry identification. The project work did not interrupt electric service to homes or businesses.

Have Questions?

Keeping the lines of communication open is an important part of our work in your community.

For questions or more information about the project, please contact us at 888-926-5334 or NHProjectsInfo@eversource.com.