Work Underway from Lake Village to Macon Lake

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - If you've traveled along Highway 65 between Lake Village and Macon Lake, you've likely seen construction crews assembling 80-foot to 120-foot long concrete poles with heavy equipment.

Entergy Arkansas, Inc. has about 50 crew members constructing a new 230 kV transmission line, while at the same time and in that same right of way, crews are rebuilding the existing 115 kV transmission line using upgraded structures. Crews are working to install embedded steel or concrete poles for both the new 230 kV line and the existing 115 kV line between Lake Village Bagby Substation and the Macon Lake transmission line.

"The plan is to work both lines in parallel so the duration of time we are impacting the community with construction activities is minimal," said Michael Milton, Entergy Arkansas project manager. "The project team is dedicated to improving reliability in southeast Arkansas by delivering the most reliable solution, on time, and as safely as possible," Milton added.

The current construction will be completed and put into service by June 2014. Later this year, crews will begin construction on approximately 22 miles of new 230 kV transmission line, and will upgrade the existing 115 kV line. This phase of the project will be in service by 2017.

"These new and improved facilities will enhance our electrical reliability from Pine Bluff to the Lake Village area, including the communities of Varner, Dumas, McGehee, Dermott and Eudora," said Tandee White, Entergy Arkansas customer service representative for southeast Arkansas. "Customers in Desha and Chicot counties will also see benefits because concrete poles are less susceptible to extreme weather, and the new transmission structures are designed to take heavier loads from ice and wind damage."

In August 2012, Entergy Arkansas held its first public meetings to announce the reliability project. After input from members of the public and approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission to proceed with the project, crews began mobilizing.

"Safety is our top priority as we work to provide efficient and reliable electrical service today and for years to come," said White. "We'd like to thank the public for their patience," White added.

All poles have been delivered for the Lake Village to Macon Lake project, so any highway delays should be minimal moving forward.

Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 700,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.

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