One of the first considerations when building a transmission line is:

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The path the line will follow is the starting point because it sets what is actually feasible and affordable, and it shapes many downstream decisions. The route determines land use, environmental and community impact, permitting, access for construction and maintenance, and potential terrain or hazard constraints. Those factors then drive how wide a right-of-way must be and what clearance is needed around the conductors, which in turn influences pole spacing and height as well as the electrical and mechanical specs you’ll choose. If you lock in pole height or conductor type without knowing the route, you risk spans that are too long or too short, unexpected obstacles, or costly land access issues that require rework. Once the route is defined, the other design aspects can be sized to meet safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements.