Minnesota Power

Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL) Project, MN

The Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL) was an incredible project consisting of 224 miles of 500kV line constructed across northern Minnesota in some of the most extensive peat bogs found in the United States.

Mitigating these challenges necessitated that overland travel and the use of heavy equipment were only done during frozen conditions on custom built ice roads. Wilson used helicopters and custom modular equipment that were air lifted into position to reduce the need for matting and reduce the area of ground disturbance. Wetland mitigation, special status species restrictions, and extensive erosion and sediment control were substantial environmental factors managed by Wilson’s Environmental Department.