Construction Methods | Bulcher to Sivells Bend

BRAZOS ELECTRIC
BULCHER TO SIVELLS BEND 138 kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT

Construction Timing and Methods

Brazos Electric plans to file the CCN application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in December 2026. The PUCT has six months to make a decision on the project; however, the PUCT can issue an order prior to that time. Brazos Electric will then engage affected landowners in discussions regarding easements and land acquisition. Construction would begin upon final approval by the PUCT. Brazos Electric anticipates that the project will be completed by January 2030.

Surveying of the proposed transmission line ROW is required to locate the centerline, the structure locations, obstacles above and below ground, and the edges of both new and existing ROW. Prior to the surveying of properties, each directly affected landowner will be notified by an agent of Brazos Electric as part of the initial phase of land acquisition and/or easement acquisition. No construction activities will begin on any property that Brazos Electric has not acquired in the form of an exclusive easement or fee title purchase contract.

Specialized wide-track vehicles and line trucks with trailers will be used to transport construction materials along the ROW to the structure locations. Galvanized steel poles will be delivered to the site location shortly before the poles are ready to be set. A large crane would then set the pole directly into an excavated hole. Each tangent pole will be backfilled with concrete, and all angle and dead-end poles will be designed on piers. If needed for the dead-end and angled structures, the concrete foundations will be installed several weeks before the steel poles are erected to allow the foundations to cure and reach their maximum strength. The steel poles will be delivered and set next to the proposed structure location shortly before structure erection. The structures will be assembled on-site, and a crane will be used to set the sections into place onto the previously installed foundations.

Once the structures have been erected, the stringing and clipping-in of conductors and static wires will begin. Outages on the rerouted transmission line are a possibility during the conductor and static wire installation. However, additional outages on other lines that will be crossed during the install are not anticipated. Each road crossing will have temporary guard poles installed for public protection while stringing in the new conductors.

Survey & Land Acquisition

Clearing

Structure Placement

Conductor and Static Wire Installation

Cleanup

How is a Substation or Switch Station Constructed?

Constructing a new substation or switch station is a carefully planned, multi-step process that begins only after the Public Utility Commission of Texas approves a route and Brazos Electric completes the necessary land acquisition. Click on the link below to learn more about the seven major stages of substation and switch station construction.

Click Here For the Substation or Switch Station Construction Sequence

BRAZOS ELECTRIC BULCHER TO SIVELLS BEND 138 kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT