South LawtonTransmission Improvements Project

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) plans to rebuild about 13 miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in south Lawton to improve the local electric transmission system. Crews plan to start construction in late 2025 and conclude in spring 2027.

The project involves rebuilding about 13 miles of 138-kV power line between the Lawton Eastside Substation in east Lawton and the Lawton 112th & West Gore Substation in west Lawton. Plans also include retiring a half-mile of power line between the Lawton 112th & West Gore and Lawton Goodyear substations and replacing it with a new line.

Fall 2025: As this project has evolved, the project timeline has shifted. As of late August, PSO representatives plan for the following construction schedule:

• Late Fall 2025: Pre-construction activities begin. To safely perform their work, crews may need to:
  • Trim or remove woody-stemmed vegetation from the right-of-way as needed
  • Remove or relocate non-habitable structures from the right-of-way
  • Install temporary gates, fencing and access roads
  • Install culverts for water management
• Late 2025: Construction activities begin. Crews will work generally from east to west replacing existing wooden poles with new steel poles.
• Spring 2027: Construction concludes and right-of-way restoration activities begin.

Contract Land Staff (CLS) serves as PSO's right-of-way representative on this project. CLS agents continue to contact affected landowners to discuss field activities, easement acquisition and construction.

Spring 2024: As this project has evolved, the project timeline has shifted. PSO representatives plan pre-construction activities such as right-of-way access preparation and tree trimming/clearing to begin in summer 2025, followed by transmission line construction in fall 2025. Company representatives expect construction to conclude in spring 2026.

Summer 2023: PSO representatives hosted an in-person open house in Lawton at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church on June 6 for affected members of the public to learn more about the project from project team members. As this project has evolved, the timeline has shifted. PSO representatives expect transmission line construction to begin in early fall 2024 and conclude in spring 2025.

Summer 2022: Crews plan to conduct field work that includes engineering surveys using equipment to collect soil samples at select locations along the power line route. Crews also plan to complete environmental surveys that include collecting topographical data such as the location of streams, wetlands and potential habitats for endangered species. State and federal agencies require us to complete these surveys. Some of the survey work may require crews to place stakes and ribbon within the company’s easement* on your property.

* Company representatives plan to rebuild the power line in the existing right-of-way, which may require acquiring new or updating existing property easements. Easements are defined land rights that property owners grant the utility to allow for the safe construction, operation and maintenance of the power line.