Low-flying helicopters to hover across northern Washtenaw County. Here’s why

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — If you live anywhere near a corridor of high-voltage transmission lines that cross northern Washtenaw County, expect to hear and see helicopters.

ITC, a Novi-based electricity transmission firm, is reconductoring about 32 miles of high-voltage lines in Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The work involves replacing existing power lines with new 345 kilovolt lines. It is work performed by helicopter.

Dates for the work are approximate and subject to change, based on weather, delays in other portions of the project, and structure location, Andrew Johnson, an ITC senior communications specialist in Michigan, wrote in an email.

“Also, there could be helicopter activity before or after the listed dates,” Johnson wrote.

Here’s when sustained work is expected across northern Washtenaw County, as of now.

• Salem Township: through Oct. 31
• Northfield Township: Nov. 5-26
• Webster Township: Nov. 13-Jan. 20
• Dexter Township: Jan. 10-31

“This work should not result in any service outages, road closures, or trail closures,” Dexter Township, one of the impacted communities, announced in a newsletter to residents. “However, Dexter Township recognizes that helicopter noise is undesirable and can be disruptive.”

Helicopter working hours are restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and non-holidays, officials said.

“Reconductoring is the replacement of existing transmission line wires with upgraded wires that are better able to handle the additional capacity (demand) placed on them,” ITC officials said in a statement.

“On this specific project, ITC will keep existing transmission structures, thereby providing resilient and reliable electricity at substantial cost savings to the community. The completed project will also provide system efficiency and storm resiliency.”

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