Claremore council approves BNSF license for underground electric line near Highway 66

The Claremore City Council and the Claremore Public Works Authority voted to approve a pipeline license agreement with BNSF Railway Company to allow a new underground electric line to cross BNSF property near Highway 66, the record shows. Counsel presented the agreement and recommended approval, saying the permit fee is about $74,100 and that the railroad proposed perpetual terms for the license.

Counsel told the council the project will carry the new line from the Baker Hughes/Tyler 2 facility to the Houston substation. Much of the route, the presentation said, will be bored under Highway 66; counsel estimated that roughly 85% of the crossing will use boring methods and that the bore length is about 300 feet, limiting sustained lane closures to setup and small tracking restrictions along Stuart Rousa.

On construction timing, counsel said work was scheduled to start the week of the meeting, with the specific railroad work and highway operations expected in the following months and subject to weather. Counsel and staff said contractors will carry required insurance and implement safety and permit requirements; staff also said the contractor will be responsible for those compliance steps.

The council moved and, after a roll call, approved the license agreement. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from members present, and the record shows the motion carried.

The license permits the city and authority to place the new line across BNSF property; staff said the agreement is similar to earlier crossing agreements the city has used. The council did not attach additional conditions in the meeting minutes; counsel said the railroad’s offer of a perpetual term could be renegotiated but would require restarting the approval process with BNSF, which staff did not recommend at this time.

Next steps include final contract execution with BNSF and coordination of contractor permitting and traffic-control plans before major work occurs.