Starting Monday, crews from AEP will begin work along the Heritage Trail to help prevent future power outages and to protect the power grid. The work is part of select clearing being performed around AEP Ohio’s high-voltage transmission lines in the Hilliard area, including a stretch along the Heritage Rail-Trail.
While crews work, the trail will be closed in sections from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Signs indicating detours will be posted along the trail while these improvements are being completed. The trail will be open evenings and weekends throughout this project. The work is expected to take several weeks, pending weather.
AEP plans to replace invasive species it removes with native pollinator gardens, which attract butterflies, birds, bees, and other beneficial insects. Some of the trees and branches removed will go to the Columbus Zoo to feed and enrich the animals there!
You can learn more about what will happen along the trail by watching this video. You can learn more about the reasons for the project at www.AEPOhio.com/HilliardArea.
This routine work is federally required and is critical in helping prevent power outages in our community and across our region. A single tree branch on high-voltage transmission lines can cause widespread, extended outages across multiple states.
