Martin West to Silver Springs

The existing 10.5-mile line will be rebuilt within the Duke Energy easement area between the Martin West Substation at 10460 NW Gainesville Rd. and the Silver Springs Substation at 3001 Southeast 36th Avenue, Ocala.

As Florida’s population grows, so do its energy needs. The transmission system in Florida is used by all utilities in the state and their customers. The rebuilt transmission line will help strengthen reliability to meet the growing demand and will help enhance the ability of Duke Energy and other utilities to provide reliable energy to homes, community facilities and businesses in the region.

Transmission lines are power lines that carry electricity from power plants to substations, which then deliver the energy to our communities and to other utilities within the state.

Current construction plans call for the rebuilt transmission line to be suspended on steel single-pole structures. The old H-frame structures will be removed. The average height of the new steel or concrete transmission poles is 160 feet, about 30 feet higher than the current structures.

Trees are part of the natural beauty of Florida, but trees and other vegetation are also one of the leading causes of power outages for utilities. Since the existing line is already in a Duke Energy easement, the corridor has been maintained to keep it free of incompatible vegetation. Our team will evaluate what vegetation clearing needs to be done to accommodate access and equipment for construction and to continue to operate the line reliably. We plan for the safe and unobstructed access to the easement for our construction crews, and for any future maintenance on the transmission line. Duke Energy representatives will be in contact with property owners in advance of vegetation removal.

Construction crews generally work weekdays during daylight hours and carry identification showing their affiliation with Duke Energy. The crews use a variety of vehicles and equipment to build concrete foundation and to place and erect poles and string wires. There may be temporary traffic lane/trail closings along the route. Neighbors can expect large trucks with drilling equipment or a concrete mixer in the right of way. The concrete is poured at the bottom of a deep hole to form the foundation. The structure materials arrive in sections and may be assembled on the ground before being installed. The final construction activity is wire stringing. Trucks carrying large reels of conductor are typically used, with a winch to pull the conductor through. Linemen attach the wires to the structures. In some cases, helicopters may be used to string the wire. Following construction, the area will be restored as closely as possible to its original condition.

Preliminary preparations for this phase of the project began in 2021 with soil samplings in the easement. Vegetation work is scheduled to begin in winter 2022 with the construction expected to start in summer 2022 and conclude in summer 2023.