Construction starts on final segment of line project

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
MORRISTOWN – Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has started construction on the final segment of a new 11.5-mile transmission line project designed to enhance service reliability and help meet the growing demand for electricity in Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth counties, according to a press release.
“Some work has been completed in your area (and) additional work will begin in the future,” said JCP&L Senior Communications Representative Ron Morano in an email on Tuesday.
He said that the Englishtown-Wyckoff Transmission Line Project is being built to enhance reliability and resiliency and meet the growing demand for electricity in the region.
JCP&L is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. and serves 1.1 million New Jersey customers in Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
The overall cost of the project is $48 million, with $18.8 million expected to be spent this year, according to a press release.
The current construction involves building an eight-mile section of a 115-kilovolt transmission line between an existing JCP&L substation in Hightstown and a transmission structure located along State Highway 33 near Manalapan. The line will run within or adjacent to existing corridors, roadways and railroad rights-of-way. The previous part of the project was completed in 2013 and involved replacing or rebuilding transmission structures along three miles of existing right-of-way from a substation in Manalapan to Millstone.
“JCP&L provides weekly updates to the municipalities where the work is taking place regarding and what roads the work will be taking place on,” Mr. Morano said. “There will be periodic lane closures on Route 33, however, the work is only done between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.”
He said that the project started in 2013.
“The current timetable calls for the work on the transmission line to be completed and in service in June,” he said. “There is other work associated with the project that will continue into the summer.”
The project is expected to help enhance service to nearly 34,000 customers in East Windsor, Englishtown, Hightstown, Manalapan, Millstone and Monroe, according to a press release.
“This transmission project is an important part of our continuing efforts to enhance reliability and help make our system more robust,” said Jim Fakult, president of JCP&L, according to the press release. “Projects like this help make our system more resilient and help reduce the number and duration of outages our customers might experience.”
The project is part of JCP&L’s multi-year, $250 million “Energizing the Future” transmission system reliability enhancement program.
“The work being done on this project is an important part of JCP&L’s continuing efforts to enhance reliability and make the electric system that serves our customers more robust,” Mr. Morano said. “It is among several projects planned this year as part of the multi-year $250 million “Energizing the Future” transmission system reliability enhancement program.”