Sargent & Lundy, LLC (Chicago, Illionois, U.S.) has signed a contract with PPL Electric Utilities (Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.) to provide transmission line engineering services for the Susquehanna-Roseland project.

The Susquehanna-Roseland 500-kV power line project will help ensure continued safe and reliable electric service for customers in eastern and northeastern Pennsylvania and throughout the region. PJM Interconnection, the independent company that operates the electric power grid for a 13-state region including Pennsylvania, says that this power line is needed by May 2012 to avoid overloading existing power lines — a situation that could lead to customers not having electricity when they need it the most.

Sargent & Lundy's scope of work includes development of the design basis document, preliminary engineering to support constructability reviews, detailed transmission line design, permitting support, development of material specifications, preparation of construction packages and engineering support during construction.

PPL Electric Utilities submitted its application for the project to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Jan. 6, 2009. Engineering will be completed in stages for the various line segments to support a project schedule with an in-service date for the total project in mid-2012.