The final route is ready for the Midwest Transmission Project, A transmission line extending from Nebraska City Neb.  to Jackson County Mo.

Planning the 180 mile route took a year and 20 different public meetings for residents to voice their opinions on the route that will travel through Northwest Missouri.

Organizers are hopeful the project will be  minimally obstructive as it can be, according to Midwest Transmission Project spokesperson Bill Musgrave.  

More than 2000 people attended the public meetings to voice their opinion.

“That’s exactly why we are so pleased with the process that we went through,” he said. “We feel like everybody was given a fair opportunity to have their concerns heard.  I think we came up with a project that will be minimally disruptive as possible and still accomplish the goals we have for the project.”

The project has three main goals.  Redundancy, efficiency and alternative energy options.  Upon completion, this line should allow for quicker power restoration after major storms to the area the transmission line serves.

“We’ll be bringing more 21st century technology to this new system, helping to avoid congestion along the line.  Finally, we hope to be able to provide on ramps for alternative energy in an effective way.”

Alternative energy like wind power, which is abundant throughout northwest Missouri.

The cost is reported to be near $400 million. The transmission line is a joint project by Kansas City Power and Light and The Omaha Public Power District.  It crosses 10 counties in Southeast Nebraska and Northwest Missouri, starting at Nebraska City.

That means the route will cross through Otoe, Richardson and Nemaha Counties in Nebraska, before crossing the Missouri River near the Thurnau Conservation Area near Craig in Holt County Missouri. It crosses into Nodaway, where it will connect with a substation.   It then extends to Andrew, Dekalb Clinton and Clay counties before reaching Jackson county.

Now that the final route is ready, the Environmental permits are expected to be completed by the end of next year and construction will start in the summer, 2015. The expectation is to have the 345-kilavolt line in service by summer, 2017.