GALLATIN, Tenn. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority has identified a preferred route for a new transmission line that would provide for growing electrical load and increase power reliability in Gallatin, Tennessee.

TVA will build a substation east of the eastern end of Gateway Drive and south of Roundtree Drive in Gallatin. TVA will also build 5.7 miles of double-circuit transmission line beginning at the Gallatin-Portland 161-kilovolt transmission line, extending east for about 2 miles and southeast for about 3.7 miles to the new substation.  This preferred route is alternative Route 2 consisting of Segments 1, 3, and 4 proposed at a virtual open house held from January 21 through February 22, 2021. 

The selected route is expected to have the least impact on the area, based on public input from the open house and additional evaluation of other factors, including social, environmental and engineering impacts. A National Environmental Policy Act review is also pending.

The project will use a combination of existing and new right of way. TVA will meet with property owners along the proposed right of way to obtain easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the line. Property owners would still own the property and be compensated for the easements at fair market value.

TVA is expected to begin surveys in summer 2021 and start acquiring easements in summer 2022. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023 and be completed in winter 2023-2024. A map of the project and additional information are available on the TVA website at www.tva.com/transmissionprojects.

For more information about TVA and its 87-year mission of service to the Tennessee Valley, click here.