ADAMS TWP — As FirstEnergy prepares to install a new transmission line in Cranberry and Adams townships, the company is considering a number of routes the new line might take.

Of the nine alternative routes, six follow the existing Cabot-Cranberry 500 kilovolt transmission line almost entirely, with slight deviations as to which side the new lines would fall along the existing route.

This existing line stretches from the existing Cranberry substation through the townships until it meets the Maple-Pine 69 kilovolt line in Adams Township.

Company spokesman Chris Eck said if a route along the existing line is chosen, the company may not need to extend the right of way in all areas and might be able to use existing infrastructure to hang the lines, with new poles supplementing those structures in areas where it's needed.

Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 essentially follow the existing line with slight deviations as to which side of the existing right of way they would fall.

Alternative routes 4 and 9 run south of the existing line, eventually meeting up with Plains Church Road and meeting back up with the existing line in Adams Township. They then follow that to the town point with the existing Maple-Pine 69 kilovolt transmission line.

Alternative route 6 travels northeast from the Cranberry substation until it meets Garvin Road. At that point, it turns east until meeting up with the Maple-Pine line just south of Callery Borough. No part of this line follows the Cabot-Cranberry Line, and many have raised concerns that creating a new route would be the most disruptive to property owners in both Adams and Cranberry townships.

Residents at informational meetings held Tuesday and Wednesday criticized the route along with area residents on social media forums throughout the week.

Eck said the company is hoping to prepare and deliver a proposal with the chosen route to the Public Utilities Commission by this spring. The commission will then begin reaching out to area residents and officials and planning hearings regarding the proposal.

Residents with properties that will be directly affected by the line will be contacted, Eck said. To contact the company with questions or to give feedback, residents can call 1-800-589-2837 or email transmissionprojects@firstenergycorp.com.