Overview – Winter 2022
In May 2021, National Grid started work to build the new 400,000 volt overhead connection along the northern section of the Hinkley Connection Project between Sandford and Seabank substations. We are using the world’s first T-pylons for part of the route.
Our contractor, J Murphy and Sons, energised the new underground cables between the west end of Nailsea and Portishead substation in September 2021. This new 132,000 volt underground connection was installed to replace the line Western Power Distribution (WPD) pylons removed from near homes and gardens in October 2021. The aim is to lessen the visual impact of the new 400kV overhead line, featuring T-pylons that will run to the west of Nailsea.
During 2023, we’ll remove the second line of WPD pylons that runs from Sandford to Avonmouth, bringing us a step closer to removing 67 kilometres of WPD’s overhead line by the time the Hinkley Connection Project is completed in 2025.
In spring 2022, our contractors will re-start work in Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve to make changes to WPD’s substation, replace pylons to the east of the substation with underground cables and build the new two new T-pylons in the reserve. Our main construction activities in the nature reserve are timed to avoid disturbance to wintering birds and other wildlife.
We recognise that our construction activity impacts local communities and work with our contractors to limit that as much as possible.
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