During routing, siting, permitting and construction of electric transmission infrastructure, utilities must develop and construct access roads. These types of roads are needed to provide access to the right-of-way, where transmission lines are constructed. Access roads are also necessary throughout the operation of these power lines in order to maintain and repair infrastructure on a regular basis and in the event of an emergency.
We will use existing roads to access the power lines when possible. However, many miles of transmission lines cross areas where there are no roads between a main thoroughfare and the transmission line. When there is no way for equipment to safely reach structures in the right-of-way using existing access, we will have to build an access road.
When an access road is necessary, we coordinate with landowners and identify a route that minimizes impacts on land use (such as farmland or yards), avoids wetlands and can support heavy vehicles. The road will require an easement agreement, which could be temporary if the road is only needed during construction, or permanent if it is required for ongoing access. Similar to a property easement, the easement for an access road provides reimbursement to the landowner in exchange for placing restrictions on how they use that portion of their property.
Access roads must support heavy equipment and are most commonly built using gravel.
