I&M plans $61 million rebuild of New Carlisle-to-Mishawaka power line

The $61 million proposal, which also calls for upgrading five substations, is needed to replace aging infrastructure from the 1920s and reduce the risk of power outages, I&M spokesman Tracy Warner said. The utility hopes to break ground on the $61 million project in spring 2018 and finish it by summer 2020.

Although an engineering study has yet to be done, Warner said, the impact of the project on property owners is expected to be "minimal" because the most of the line would be rebuilt within the utility's existing 100-foot right-of-way for the line. 

In some cases, however, easement rights might need to be purchased from property owners to make room for the line, Warner said. He couldn't estimate how many properties could be impacted, however, because an engineering study hasn't yet been done to finalize the exact route; that study will start this fall and be done by early next year.