Metro Engineering Solutions partnered with DTE to successfully design an underground electrical transmission line beneath the Detroit River, connecting the mainland to the island community of Grosse Ile. The project involved the construction of underground utilities beginning at the DTE Trenton Channel Power Plant, extending approximately 50 feet into the bedrock below the river, and surfacing again near the intersection of West River Road and Ruthmere Avenue in Grosse Ile, Michigan.
The alignment required a transition from traditional open-cut construction methods to horizontal directional drilling techniques to advance beneath the riverbed. As part of the investigation and planning efforts, PEA Group was hired to provide Geotechnical Engineering services. Our team coordinated and executed five soil borings, including two located within the Detroit River, and drilled as deep as 75 feet below the river’s bottom to obtain comprehensive data on subsurface conditions.
PEA Group played a vital role in efficiently managing the geotechnical portion of the project, securing subcontractors, and working closely with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure timely permitting and precise barge placement during overwater drilling operations.
Through meticulous coordination and collaboration, Metro Engineering Solutions and PEA Group successfully executed the design and installation of the underground electrical transmission line, enhancing the region’s power infrastructure and reinforcing connectivity to Grosse Ile.