Officials say they are “making progress” on Hydro One’s new 500 kilovolt power line from the Bruce power facility near Kincardine to its switching station in Milton.
“We are on schedule to complete the line in 2012,” said spokesperson Nancy Shaddick.
She explained construction is completed for about 600 of the 700 towers along the 180km line, which will pass directly through Erin and the northeast corner of Wellington North.
Hydro One plans to complete station work and stringing of the lines for the $635-million project simultaneously.
Shaddick said line stringing in the Wellington County area could begin in late February, depending on the weather, and be completed by early March.
Hydro One also recently reached a deal with the Orton Community Association, one of 350 landowners – 30 to 40 of which are in Erin and Wellington North – affected by the new line.
For over four years, Orton residents have been trying to seek a solution to what they see as a major problem: the new line will pass directly over the hamlet’s park, meaning the community’s children would be playing beneath the high-tension wires.
Shaddick said Hydro One was pleased to come to an agreement with East Garafraxa that will see Hydro One take over the current five-acre park on the east side of Orton in exchange for $175,000, a $25,000 grant (through Hydro One’s PowerPlay program) and a three acre parcel on John Street, north of Atson Hall.
A third party in the deal, realtor Wayne Baguley, received an undisclosed amount for a portion of the land involved, which he owned.
“It’s great News, both for the electricity system and the community,” Shaddick said of the agreement.
East Garafraxa is expected to form a committee, including members of council and the Orton Community Association, to oversee development of the new park.
The municipality will fund construction at the new park – including upgrades on John Street to facilitate a proper entrance to the land – while the Orton Community Association will be in charge of ongoing maintenance.
The Bruce to Milton line is the largest expansion to Ontario’s transmission system in 20 years. The move was necessitated by the addition of two units at the Bruce complex, as well as new wind energy projects coming on line.
