Quanta Services, Inc. has secured a contract with Northeast Utilities (NU) for transmission infrastructure services spanning some 45 miles in Connecticut. The contract is part of the Middletown-to-Norwalk project and encompasses two project segments that extend the state's overhead transmission system in southwest Connecticut. Burns and McDonnell will serve as program manager for this project and was involved in reaching this agreement.

Upon completion, this new transmission line will help improve reliability of the region's power supply and provide benefits to customers in the state of Connecticut and those in New England.

The two project segments awarded to Quanta include the addition of new 345-kV overhead circuits to existing rights of way and rebuilding various 115-kV overhead circuits on new structures. The work will take place between the towns of Middletown and Milford, Conn., and will be performed primarily by PAR Electrical Contractors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quanta Services.

"This is the largest electric utility transmission contract in the history of our company and signifies the increased focus on upgrading the New England region transmission grid," said John R. Colson, chairman and chief executive officer of Quanta Services. "Our market leadership position, all-encompassing capabilities and proprietary services differentiate Quanta and enable us to partner with our customers to get the job done."

Quanta will work closely with Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell. Serving as the program manager for the project, Burns & McDonnell will oversee construction and is also engineering the project, leading the procurement effort, managing safety and handling community relations.

Northeast Utilities, a Fortune 500 energy company based in Connecticut, operates New England's largest energy delivery system. NU is committed to safety, reliability, environmental leadership and stewardship, and expanding energy options for its more than 2 million electricity and natural gas customers.

Quanta Services, Inc. is a leading provider of specialized contracting services, delivering end-to-end network solutions for electric power, gas, telecommunications and cable television industries. The company's comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining network infrastructure nationwide.

Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a full-service engineering, construction, environmental and consulting solutions firm. The firm serves clients on a wide variety of transmission, distribution, substation and communications related projects.