A substantial portion of Interstate 75 near Dayton, OH has been undergoing major improvements to meet new and improved safety standards. The construction of new roadways and overpasses has created a need for changes to surrounding overhead power lines. Sufficient ground clearance between power lines and the highway is necessary to allow the tallest vehicles to pass without danger. If these lines were to remain in their current locations, an oversized heavy-load dump truck, for instance, could encounter one of the wires causing a fire, power outage or even worse; kill those who are inside or around the vehicle. To ensure the safety of all motorists, the Ohio Department of Transportation requested that FirstEnergy take measures to re-evaluate the current elevation of their existing power lines.  

As part of the Energizing the Future project, this multi-year investment initiative aimed at upgrading FirstEnergy's transmission facilities with advanced equipment and technologies will reinforce the power grid and help reduce the frequency and duration of customer outages. To keep the community "connected", accomplishing this portion of the job quickly and with as little disruption as possible was imperative. With safety and speed in mind, FirstEnergy selected M. Betters Construction, Inc. to install new foundations for the power lines over I-75. M. Betters choose the mighty ICE® 110C Vibratory Pile Driver/Extractor to install the 132-inch diameter caissons for the driven 80' (ft) foundations.  

Since launching the initiative in 2014, FirstEnergy has achieved a 50% reduction in equipment-related transmission outages across its Ohio service area, as well as the Penn Power and West Penn Power territories in western Pennsylvania. This portion of the 64 mile I-75 power line refurbishment project will upgrade a 13-mile segment, located in the West Township area of Columbiana County and the August Township and Washington Township areas of Carroll County, is scheduled to be completed in January 2023. Through 2022, FirstEnergy has invested more than $10 billion (about $31 per person in the US) in the Energizing the Future initiative.  ICE® is proud to have been selected by M. Betters Construction to provide the equipment needed to ensure safe travel for Ohio's commuters and visitors. Cheers to M. Betters on successfully executing this job swiftly and safely! 

Learn more about the ICE® 110C.