Bridge removal marks key milestone as project enters final reinstatement phase
The Hinkley Connection Project has reached a major milestone with the removal of the first temporary bridge installed when construction began. The bridge is the last to be removed, bringing the project even closer to completion.
The 17-metre, 21-tonne structure made of steel was installed just north of Tarnock in September 2019. It has served as vital infrastructure during the construction of the new 400,000-volt underground cable section beneath the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty between Bridgewater and Seabank near Avonmouth. This cabling approach removes the need for pylons in this protected landscape, reducing the project’s visual impact and preserving the area’s valuable ecology whilst still providing resilient power supplies to the region.
Working with our contractors, Balfour Beatty, the project team used a crane to lift the bridge in one piece. As with all parts of the project, careful planning and respect for the environment played a key role in ensuring complete success. All materials from the bridge were either reused or responsibly recycled, highlighting our commitment to sustainable construction.
The bridge holds a special place in the project’s timeline. Since its installation in September 2019, the project has made remarkable progress, with 143 pylons now installed over 57 kilometres, including 116 of the world's first operational T-pylons, and 8.5 kilometres of underground cables laid beneath the Mendip Hills.
Robbie Griggs, Project Manager for National Grid, said:
The removal of this bridge is a landmark moment for everyone who has worked on the Hinkley Connection Project. As both the first bridge installed and the last removed, it bookends almost six years of construction work that has transformed the region's energy infrastructure. We're now firmly in our reinstatement phase, working hard to restore the land and leave a positive legacy for local communities as we deliver low-carbon, homegrown energy to six million homes and businesses across the UK.
The Hinkley Connection Project, approved by the Secretary of State in January 2016, plays a key role in strengthening the electricity transmission network in the South West and supporting the UK's transition to net zero and the government's target to power all homes and businesses with secure, affordable and cleaner energy by 2035.
To view further stories about project milestones and community involvement, please visit Hinkley Connection Project.
