Millvale residents narrow down route options for new transmission lines

Maritime Electric will have to make a choice after the final two options for the Millvale transmission line were presented Thursday night.

A working group made up of community members and company staff has been meeting almost weekly for more than a month to figure out where to put new transmission lines and a substation to serve the area.

The group was formed after massive opposition to the company's original plan.

• On hold: Maritime Electric halts plans for high voltage lines in Millvale, P.E.I.

Maritime Electric found one of the routes. Itwould connect to already existing transmission lines behind Route 2, go across fields, then cross over the Old Princetown Road. It would then go cross country again to New Orleans Road and run along about a half kilometre of that road where there are some houses. It would then go the proposed substation at the corner of St. Patrick's Road and Millvale Road.

A new route found

The residents group spent the past two weeks working to get landowners' approval, which they have received. While doing that they saw another possible route.

It would start just off the Smith road, and connect to existing transmission lines there. It would go back towards the old Princetown Road over back-country and cross over Princetown Road, go cross country again to travel to New Orleans Road. It would then go over a section of provincial land to the substation.

Resident committee member Kerie Murphy said her group prefers this plan as it doesn't go near any houses.But the tricky part will be to get provincial approval.

"I would really kind of hope the provincial government would help us out with this," said Murphy.

"I hope they wouldn't hold up the whole process."

Final route will require study

Now the options have to be narrowed down to one, but as Maritime Electric spokeswomanKim Griffin explains that won't mean it's completely finalized.

"We need to study it from a technical perspective and walk the route. We also have to go and talk to the customers along the route and make sure we can get easements et cetera." she said.

"From that stage we would we would be going to see government in terms of making an application et cetera. So we do have several other items that we have to do."

Murphy said Maritime Electric confirmed theywill check out the new route and the committee will meet again next Thursday.

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