Harbor Crossing Power Towers Enclosure Design

BGE decided to use an overhead transmission design instead of underground, and McKissack & McKissack developed design options for the new transmission towers to support its overhead double-circuit 230-kV transmission line segment crossing the Patapsco River and running parallel to the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The overhead line design included eight towers, five of which were in the river, with each tower requiring Vessel Collision Protection structures. The 2 main towers spanning the main shipping channel into Baltimore Harbor measure approximately 397 feet above water, making them the tallest monopole towers to date and sufficient for ships to safely pass through. McKissack & McKissack analyzed various overhead options for design and feasibility, and how they would impact and improve the view from Baltimore while remaining sensitive to the surrounding neighborhoods. Multiple agencies were also involved in the design process, including the Port of Baltimore, the National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Association of Maryland Pilots.