North Rochester-Chester 161 kV transmission line project route options

The proposed North Rochester-Chester 161 kV transmission line will run between a proposed North Rochester Substation (to be located between Pine Island and Zumbrota) and the existing Chester Substation west of Rochester. The line is part of the Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse project, which includes a 345 kV line between Rochester and La Crosse and a 161 kV line between the North Rochester Substation and the Northern Hills Substation.

The 161 kV line will be co-located on the 345 kV structures between the proposed North Rochester Substation to east of the Zumbro River (whichever 345 kV route is approved); from there to the Chester Substation, the line will be constructed on a new route, which includes co-locating it with an existing 69 kV line for the southern half of the new alignment. No new right-of-way will be required on the segments that will co-locate with the 161 kV and 345 kV lines.

A Route Permit application for the North Rochester-Chester 161 kV transmission line was filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on September 19, 2011.

Detailed aerial photos route maps: Click within a tile below to download a detailed tile map as a PDF. Click outside the tiles for a larger view of the entire project map.