Soil Testing in Platte Co. for New Power Line

Columbus, Neb. – Local residents may see trucks with special hole-boring equipment operating along public right-of-way in Platte County beginning this week. Workers will be performing geotechnical boring, or soil testing, for the new transmission line Nebraska Public Power District is planning to build between NPPD’s Shell Creek Substation and Lincoln Electric System’s Northwest 68th and Holdrege Substation.

The testing is slated at this time in Platte County, generally from just east of  Behlen Mfg. in Columbus north to NPPD’s (currently under construction) Shell Creek Substation, located six miles north of Columbus.

Holes being bored are not to set new poles for the transmission line, and the work is being done only in the public right-of-way near the proposed route for the new line. NPPD is doing this work now to “beat the (winter) weather” and will not be asking for access to private property until 30 days after NPPD’s just completed round of public hearings, which were held the week of Nov. 11.

If anyone has any questions about work being done, please phone Mark Miller at NPPD at 402.563.5851.