By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Some Steiner Ranch residents may have recently noticed crews from the Lower Colorado River Authority working on neighborhood utility lines.

LCRA crews are working to rebuild a 14-mile transmission line that stretches from Braker Lane and North Lamar Boulevard to Mansfield Dam, according to LCRA project manager John Spencer. The $17 million project began in August and should be complete by March 2015. Spencer said it is necessary to meet growing electricity demands in Austin.

“That line, if we didn’t upgrade, is one that could overload,” Spencer said. “This one is over 50 years old.”

The transmission line crosses RM 2222 and also RM 620 just east of Steiner Ranch Boulevard, then goes southwest, crossing over Steiner Ranch Boulevard and North Quinlan Park Road, and ends at Mansfield Dam at the Marshall Ford substation.

Spencer compared the project to increasing the capacity of a two-lane road to a five-lane road. While this is a stand-alone project and the only one LCRA is currently working on, he said similar projects are occurring through the state to meet the growing population demands.

He said electricity customers should not notice any impact to their service due to the work. In addition to the work on the transmission line, the project also includes upgrades to the substations at each end of the line.

To reduce the impact on the surrounding area, he said crews are implementing standard environmental controls as well as avoiding restricted bird habitats.