Leadville to Climax and Robinson Rack Transmission Line Rebuild

Project Overview

Xcel Energy is building a better, cleaner energy future by taking steps to create a smarter and stronger energy grid, for a more secure energy supply. This commitment includes replacing infrastructure reaching the end of its useful life.

We plan to replace two 60+ year old transmission lines that run from the Leadville substation northward to both the Climax and Robinson Rack substations, a significant portion of which parallels Highway 91 in Lake County.

Need and benefits

The transmission lines deliver critical energy within Colorado’s central mountain communities. The lines were originally built in the 1940s and 1950s with wood H-frame and steel lattice-work towers. Due to natural weathering and the overall age of the transmission structures and equipment, the lines have reached the end of their useful life and must be replaced. New infrastructure will improve electric service reliability to homes and businesses in the region, withstand higher than normal windspeeds, proactively mitigate the risk of wildfire damage to the transmission line and help meet the region’s energy needs for years to come.

 

Project details

• Two 115 kV power lines, each approximately 13 miles in length rebuilt to modern standards
• Replace aged, wood H-frame and lattice-work towers with steel monopoles
• Reduce total number of poles needed by sharing towers to a point approximately 10 miles north of the Leadville Substation, then traveling separately, approximately three miles each, to the Climax Substation and Robinson Rack Substation
• Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) will be added to improve communication between substations and assist in preventing lightning strikes
• Lines will be rebuilt largely within existing rights-of-way
• In some cases, Xcel Energy may need to secure additional permanent easements to meet engineering and operational requirements, or temporary easements for construction and property access

The transmission lines cross land belonging to private property owners, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, within Lake and Eagle counties. All work will be done in compliance with strict conservation requirements established by these public agencies.

Schedule

The rebuild project will take approximately three years to complete, with construction schedules dependent on weather.

Xcel Energy plans to begin construction in 2024 near the town of Leadville and will use helicopters to safely deliver construction materials and transmission towers to locations not accessible by vehicles. Information about scheduled helicopter use near Leadville will be published in the local newspaper and on the Mineral Belt Trail.

Work will continue northward from the Leadville Substation through fall 2024 and crews are scheduled to resume construction in spring 2025 and 2026, completing all work by the end of the 2026 construction season.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or comments, please call 303-571-7367 or email LeadvilletoClimax@xcelenergy.com

Resources

Leadville to Climax/Robinson Rack Information Sheet (PDF)
Transmission Line Construction (PDF)
Birds and Power Lines (PDF)
EMF (PDF)
Safety around power lines (PDF)