Lincoln Electric System set to begin new transmission project in Haymarket

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Some changes are coming to the Haymarket District due to upgrades for a transmission project.

Lincoln Electric System said this is needed now more than ever.

They hosted an open house on Thursday night to preview the project’s plans. LES will upgrade the transmission lines from South 1st and M Street to 17th and North to Salt Creek Road.

However, existing transmission lines will be used to minimize any disruptions, which should speed up the process.

There will be temporary parking, sidewalks, and lane closures, while the project could also impact businesses along the route.

The project manager said the need is urgent and the goal is to double capacity.

“As a community’s need for power continues to grow, things like electrification, the need for power continues to increase,” said Tim Rajewski. “This project has been on the horizon for a number of years, cause we could see the need was coming.”

The plan will also stretch to the north side of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s campus.

Construction is set to begin in January 2026. They timed it around football season when the area isn’t quite as busy.

But, beyond increasing capacity, LES says there are other benefits.

“At the same time we’ll be replacing conductors, we will also be replacing insulators and some of the other hardware components,” Rajewski said. “We’ll be set to have a renewed transmission corridor for an extended period of time.”

LES says they have reached out to all businesses that could be affected by the project, but they don’t anticipate any full street closures.