Construction Challenges of 345-kV Underground

Burns & McDonnell is providing Program Management and detailed design for the Northeast Utilities (NUSCO) subsidiary Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) on the Middletown/Norwalk Bulk Transmission Project, a $1.2 Billion project scheduled for completion in December, 2009. The project includes 69 miles of new 345 kV transmission line, of which approximately 24 miles will be solid dielectric 345kV underground cable, along with several new and modified substations. Although CL&P serves just more than 1.1 million customers in 149 towns and cities across Connecticut, the Middletown/Norwalk Project (MNP) is the largest transmission capital project in the country. NUSCO is responsible for the completion of 18.5 miles of the underground transmission portion of the project while the neighboring utility United Illuminated ((UI) will handle approximately 5.5 miles of the underground transmission portion of the project. NU selected Burns & McDonnell based on their technical expertise, construction management experience, procurement team, project controls experience and overall staffing depth.