Auburn to Norway Structure Replacements (Section 53)
CMP’s Section 53 transmission line travels 18 miles from Auburn to Norway and through parts of Paris, Oxford, Mechanic Falls, and Poland, serving approximately 7,700 customers.
CMP crews will begin construction in May in Auburn and move north towards Norway. The work schedule will not be a straight trek between these locations due to permit or time-of-year considerations. Once those are lifted, we will move construction activities to those specific areas.
Beginning in May, CMP will upgrade wooden structures along this route identified during inspections with new, stronger steel poles that are slightly taller, have longer lifespans, and can better withstand extreme storms.
Along with new poles, fiberglass crossarms that are less susceptible to moisture will be installed. The wire currently in use will be moved to the new structures.
An existing wooden transmission line structure.
A visual rendering of new steel pole structure.
Frequently asked questions
The new steel structures will be, on average, five feet taller and will be installed next to the existing wood poles. The older poles will be removed once the wire is transferred.
Most of CMP’s construction work will be completed without customers experiencing an interruption of service.
Construction Start: May 2025
Completion: End of 2025
CMP crews will be accessing our transmission line corridor via roads where CMP has access rights or legal agreements with property owners or towns. CMP land agents from our Real Estate department will be reaching out to some adjacent landowners to acquire access rights.
CMP crews will be visiting transmission line sites scheduled for upgrades to measure and mark property boundaries and environmentally sensitive areas. Please do not remove any flags.
CMP will secure all necessary permits for this project, if needed, from the Maine Department of Transportation, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, municipalities, and railroads.
Timber ground mats will be used, especially in environmentally sensitive areas, to safely disburse the weight of construction vehicles and not disrupt the land below them.
At CMP, safety is a priority – yours and our crews. Our right-of-way and road locations will be active construction zones. Please do not enter construction zones. For work along streets, flaggers and signs will notify pedestrians and motorists of work zones.
Trees and vegetation will be trimmed in the right-of-way, as needed.
Work activity periods will comply with town ordinances. Typical construction noise, including drilling, will occur. Abutters may hear heavy equipment (bucket trucks, cranes, and excavators) during construction activities.