Hutchinson ? The state has approved a new route for another high-voltage electric transmission line in south-central and southwest Kansas.

The Hutchinson News reports that the Kansas Corporation Commission this week approved the route for ITC Great Plains 122-mile line through Ford, Clark, Kiowa and Barber counties.

It will go from an existing substation at Spearville to a substation in northern Clark County and the Thistle substation east of Medicine Lodge.

The KCC also approved five changes to the route, which will add an estimated $1.87 million to the estimated $300.2 million cost.

ITC said in a news release that it will begin negotiations with landowners to purchase right-of-way easements in the near future. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2013 with the project on line in 2014.