Construction Projects
Electric usage among East River’s membership has increased over the last 10 years and is expected to continue at an increased rate.
To keep up with this demand additional infrastructure must be installed so that the likelihood of overloads will be reduced and alternate sources of power can be provided to homes and businesses in the service area.
In addition to new infrastructure, East River is rebuilding and upgrading its existing electrical infrastructure so as to continue to provide reliable electric service to its members well into the future.
Information concerning current projects is provided here. As these projects move through their development and construction phases we will work to update their progress. For more information contact Mark Hoffman, Ron Golden, Kurt Donelan, or Tony Englert by calling 605-256-4536 or by emailing: transmission@eastriver.coop.
Click here for the System Map indicating projects
Construction Projects Summary
Last updated November 8, 2011
1. Madison South Tap Rebuild
East River's Madison South Tap 69kV transmission line has a section of line in deep water and in 2011 wind and moving water damaged a number of structures. Due to these events and ongoing maintenance issues, East River has selected an alternate route to bypass this flooded area in order to restore the transmission route. Construction is planned for winter/spring 2012.
2. Huron to Bonilla Line Rebuild
East River's Huron to Bonilla transmission line is planned to be rebuilt due to its age, condition, and limited capacity abilities. This segment of line totals 17 miles. This segment of line was built more than 50 years ago and needs to be rebuilt to improve the capacity and reliability to the area loads. Construction of this project is scheduled for late 2012 and early 2013.
3. WAPA Sioux Falls to Four Mile Creek Map
Major growth in residential, commercial and industrial energy usage is occurring in the Sioux Falls area. In 2001, an engineering study of the area surrounding Sioux Falls that is served by East River member systems was completed. This study found East River’s east loop around Sioux Falls needs to be converted from 69 kV to 115 kV to adequately serve the increasing demand.
In 2007, another engineering study of the growth around Sioux Falls and its impact on East River’s transmission system and its ability to continue to provide reliable electric service identified the need for a tie line between the Western Area Power Administration’s Sioux Falls high voltage substation and East River’s proposed Four Mile Creek Substation, see project below. Survey work for the project is being completed at this time. Engineering design and ROW work for this project is taking place now. Construction of this project has commenced.
4. Corson North Tie
Corson North Tie is a planned 2 mile long 115 kV transmission line which will connect to the existing Corson substation, which is now on a radial line, to the new Western to Rowena transmission line. In so doing a second delivery source to East River’s Corson substation will be created providing added reliability to the electric system in the rapidly growing area in South Dakota. Engineering design work for this project is taking place now. Construction has commenced.
5. Hartford to Chancellor Tie
This tie line is part of the long range plan for serving the growing loads on the west side of Sioux Falls. This 14.5 mile tie line will be designed and constructed for 115 kV but will be initially operated at 69 kV and will connect the existing Hartford substation to East River’s Fodness Substation to Parker line tap. Survey work for this project has been completed. A public meeting was held in August to inform land owners along the line route of the project. Right of way work to acquire easements for this project has commenced. Construction of this project is scheduled for fall of 2011.
6. Cresbard Substation Rebuild
This 69/12.5 kV substation, built in 1982, has surface ground water issues resulting in tipping foundations on all structures within the substation. East River intends to regrade the substation site to correct the water issue and then build a new substation at the site. Earth work for the substation rebuild has been completed. Dependent upon weather, final construction and energization will take place in fall of 2011.
7. Watertown South By-Pass Map
The South Dakota Department of Transportation is building a new highway by-pass around the south side of Watertown, SD. East River has an existing 69 kV over head transmission line that needs to be relocated to accommodate the new highway by-pass route. A Force Account agreement with the State DOT for this work has been completed. The design work for this project is complete and right of way acquisition work is taking place now. Construction is scheduled to begin winter/spring of 2012.
8. Roscoe Substation Rebuild
This 69/12.5 kV substation, built in 1966, has been adversely impacted over the years by frost, drainage, and other weather related conditions to the point that the substation needs to be rebuilt to maintain system reliability and operability. During 2012, East River will completely rebuild and update this substation. Grading work is taking place at this time.
9. Groton to Mansfield Rebuild Map
East River, in its current four year work plan, has begun a long range effort to rebuild existing transmission lines that because of their condition and limited capacity abilities need to be rebuilt. The Groton to Mansfield transmission line, constructed prior to 1954 is one of those lines. This line, construction mainly on the quarter lines will be relocated to a location along the public roads as this will make it easier for maintenance work to be performed as well as facilitate quicker response times to outages. A public meeting was held in August 2010 to provide information to land owners along the original line route. Construction of this project was scheduled for 2011. Since the public meeting East River engineers have re-evaluated and modified the route selected for crossing the James River. Soil borings were recently taken at this river crossing site. The planned construction of this line will take place late in 2011 and early in 2012.
10. Bristol to Andover Line Rebuild
East River's Bristol to Andover transmission line is another line segment that because of its condition and limited capacity ability needs to be rebuilt. This line, constructed prior to 1955, is constructed mainly on the quarter lines and will be relocated to a location along the public roads as this will make it easier for maintenance work to be performed as well as facilitate quicker response times to outages. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2012.
11. Clear Lake Substation Rebuild
This 1950 vintage substation has been adversely impacted over the years by frost, drainage, and other weather-related conditions to the point that the substation needs to be rebuilt to maintain system reliability and operability. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2012.
12. McCook to North Sioux City Tine Line
This 8 mile 69 kV tie line will provide an emergency interconnection to provide backup for the new McCook Lake Substation, and the existing Elk Point, Elk Point City, and Jefferson Substations, which are on a radial line, to Mid American Energy's 69 kV transmission system at North Sioux City.
13. Four Mile Creek Substation
This new 115 kV electrical substation will increase East River’s reliability of electrical service around the east half of Minnehaha County. The equipment installed will allow East River to switch electrical service to our member system, Sioux Valley Energy, while reducing outage times that exist today. This substation will also provide an additional location for our member system to receive electrical service to provide to their customers. The substation will be located at a point where three transmission lines intersect, two existing and one new line the WAPA Sioux Falls to Four Mile Creek. The proposed project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
14. Roscoe to Ipswich Line Rebuild
East River’s Roscoe to Ipswich 69 kV transmission line is in an area of deep flooded water. In April of 2011, moving ice destroyed or damaged multiple structures within East River’s Roscoe to Ipswich Line. Due to these events East River investigated and selected an alternate route of 5 miles to bypass this flooded area in order to restore the transmission line. Construction of this project is scheduled for the fall of 2011.
15. Bowdle to Roscoe Reconductor
This 9 mile segment of transmission line was constructed in 1975. It has been exposed to some of the harshest winter weather conditions in East River’s service area. The line’s deteriorating condition dictates it to be rebuilt. At this time East River is planning on reconductoring and reinsulating this line with poles staying in their current location. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2012.
16. Grenville Tap Rebuild Map
East River's Grenville Tap is planned to be rebuilt because of its condition, age, limited capacity, and location needs to be rebuilt. This 1966 vintage 15 mile long transmission line is constructed on the quarter lines and will be relocated to a location along the public roads. This will make it easier for maintenance work to be performed as well as facilitate quicker response times to outages. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2012.
17. Clear Lake Tap Rebuild
East River’s Clear Lake Tap is planned to be rebuilt because of its age, condition, and limited capacity abilities. The Clear Lake 69 kV line is 17.5 miles long and was built in 1953. This section of line needs to be rebuilt due to the deterioration that has occurred due to age and weather conditions over the years. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2012.
18. Valley Springs Substation
East River’s member Sioux Valley Energy has indicated a need for a future distribution substation to be located near the community of Valley Springs, South Dakota. This new 115 kV substation will be located northeast of Valley Springs at the intersection of 261 Street and 485 Avenue. The proposed project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
19. Spring Valley Substation
East River's member, Sioux Valley Energy, has indicated a need for a future distribution substation for anticipated growth, located on the east side of Sioux Falls. The proposed project will be located along the existing East River Ellis to Tea transmission line on the west side of 467 Ave between 265 street and 266 street. The proposed project is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
20. Sioux Falls Tap Rebuild
This 3.5 mile segment of transmission line needs to be rebuilt due to increasing loads. This line will be designed for future 115 kV operation. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2012.
21. 85th Street Substation & Line Tap
This new 115 kV substation is needed by East River's member system, Southeastern Electric, to serve the growing loads in the Sioux Falls area. The proposed site will be located along Interstate 29 between 85th street and 69th street. The new 115kV line tap will loop to the 85th street substation into East River's transmission system and totals 2 miles in length. Construction will begin in 2012 with energization in 2013.
22. Beresford-Tea Line Rebuild
East River has evaluated older segments of its system to be rebuilt because of its age, condition, and limited capacity abilities. This segment of line needs to be rebuilt to improve the capacity and reliability to the area loads during normal and emergency conditions. The project will be 17.5 miles long. Construction of this project will occur in 2013.
