Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has completed the final phase of a $48 million, 11.5-mile transmission line project designed to enhance service reliability and system resiliency for nearly 34,000 customers in Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth counties.
Recently completed work included the construction of a new, eight-mile 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between an existing JCP&L substation in Hightstown and a transmission structure located along Route 33 near Manalapan, according to a statement prepared by JCP&L.
This project was the second phase of work that began in 2013 to replace or rebuild a 230-kV transmission line and support structures along more than three miles of an existing right-of-way from a substation in Manalapan to Millstone.
“This vital infrastructure improvement could not have been successfully constructed without the cooperation of multiple municipal, county and state officials and agencies,” said Tony Hurley, JCP&L vice president of Operations. “This combined effort helped complete the project in a timely and efficient manner to better serve customers in central New Jersey.”
The project included installing more than 200 new wood utility poles, five new steel monopoles and more than 174,000 feet of new wire.
In addition, the substation at Hightstown received a new transformer, and circuit breaker upgrades were installed to increase operational flexibility and reliability.
The completed project will enhance electrical service to customers in East Windsor, Englishtown, Hightstown, Manalapan, Millstone and Monroe and is located within or adjacent to existing corridors, roadways and railroad rights-of-way, according to the statement.