Project Benefits
- Improving energy reliability for the surrounding region and local communities.
- Increasing transmission capacity to meet changing energy needs.
- Promoting access to diverse energy sources.
- Growing economic development opportunities.
Project Timeline
Final Proposed Route Selected and Filed
On May 1, 2025, after careful consideration of feedback from landowners, community members, interested agencies and local officials, ATXI has selected and filed a Final Proposed Route with the Missouri Public Service Commission (Mo PSC).
The Mo PSC is currently reviewing the application and a decision is expected in Spring 2026. For more information on the MoPSC filing, visit Docket Sheet - EA-2025-0222 - EFIS.
Public and Stakeholder Involvement
The team has gathered and reviewed data from community members, landowners, and stakeholders during different stages of the routing process. Our first series of engagement was hosted in January 2025 to gather input on the Route Segments. The second series of engagement was hosted in February 2025 to gather input on the Preliminary Route Alternatives. All input received during our two phases of engagement was reviewed and considered, along with our routing criteria during the development of the Final Proposed Route. If you were unable to participate in any of the phases of engagement – connect with our project team today.
Public collaboration remains a top priority for our team, and we appreciate your participation throughout our public engagement process. We encourage you to stay involved in the process by joining our project email or mailing list to receive updates on the project.
Contact Us
We have a designated project hotline and email address that the public can use to get in touch with members of our project team. Have a question? Please contact us using one of the methods below.
Mail Us
Grand Tower Crossing Project
Attn: HDR
401 S 18th St
Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63103
Frequently Asked Questions
General
This Project includes the construction of a new, approximately 4-mile, 138 kV transmission line to connect Citizens Electric’s existing Wittenberg substation in Perry County, Missouri across the Mississippi River to a new Jenkins substation near Ameren Illinois' existing Grand Tower substation in Jackson County, Illinois.
The project is located in Perry County, Missouri, and Jackson County, Illinois.
Although this is a collaborative effort, ATXI and Citizen’s Electric Corporation will develop separate components of the project. ATXI is responsible for developing the new, 4-mile transmission line, river crossing, and the construction of the new AIC Jenkins substation in Illinois. Citizen’s Electric Corporation will expand the existing Wittenburg substation in Missouri.
The Grand Tower River Crossing Project is needed to improve energy reliability for local communities and replace aging infrastructure.
The existing Grand Tower substation parcel is under plans for redevelopment. Replacing this aging infrastructure on the new Jenkins substation property nearby will improve energy reliability and provide smart grid technology. The Grand Tower substation is anticipated to be retired by the end of 2028.
Environmental & Agency Coordination
Ameren will coordinate with various environmental and cultural-directed regulatory agencies including, but not necessarily limited to, the, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missouri, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and state historic preservation offices. They have also all been invited to attend our meetings. Ameren has a strong commitment to incorporating environmental management and sustainability principles into our work: Environmental Stewardship - Ameren.com.
Ameren uses an avian-safe structure design and flight diverters where necessary as part of our corporate Avian Protection Plan to minimize impacts to migratory birds.
As a part of Ameren’s evaluation of potential routes, the minimization of environmental impacts, including those to threatened and endangered species, is a priority, and we have dedicated, qualified team members to provide expertise and guidance toward this goal. As a part of this routing evaluation, Ameren will prioritize those route that will avoid or minimize impacts to threatened and endangered species. Ameren will work with state and federal agencies to identify potential impacts and compensate/mitigate for such occurrences as required for any unavoidable impacts. In most cases through implantation of various conservation measures Ameren can avoid or substantially minimize impacts to most species. Many threatened and endangered species inhabit our ROWs after construction, especially where native vegetation and habitats are established as part of the restoration and ongoing maintenance efforts throughout the project's life. Ameren will work with landowners during the restoration process to identify opportunities for creating quality habitats that may be beneficial to protected species and other more common species
