Xcel Energy is hard at work in Minnetonka, hammering away at the rebuild of a transmission line that's well past its prime. The effort spans from the Deephaven Substation to the Westgate substation in Eden Prairie, all in a bid to keep the lights on and the energy flowing without a hitch in the west metro area. Even though the transmission line is getting a makeover, the voltage will stay the same, tough luck for anyone dreaming of a power boost.

The old line has been kicking since the 1950s, and like anything built when Elvis was still king, its time is up. Xcel's plan doesn't shoot for the stars; the new towers will match the old ones in height. Most of the construction chaos is penned within the current easement or road right-of-way, although the lone poles strutting along Co Rd 101, are staying put, to the relief or dismay of locals.

Eden Prairie residents can breathe easy; their part in this energy saga is done and dusted. The bike trail between Deephaven Substation and Hennepin Co Rd 101 isn't in the clear yet, with work still chugging along. Xcel is penciling in May 20 for the grand finale of this power play, with any leftover mess to be tidied up when the weather decides to play nice.

Fancy a peek at the project's footprint? Xcel's offering up a project map overview (PDF) for the voyeur in all of us. If the sight of hard hats and heavy machinery gets your gears grinding, questions and heartaches can be directed to Chris Berglund, the man with the plan, reachable at 612‐330‐6471 or via his digital letterbox at [email protected], as per the update from the Minnetonka's official website.