Tickenham to Portishead

Current construction activity

Overview – Spring 2024

National Grid is moving into the final stage for completing the north section of the Hinkley Connection route between Sandford and Seabank substations. 

68 new T-pylon structures have now been completed between Sandford and Portbury with the final wires being hung in March 2024. The final diamond shaped insulators were lifted into place on a pylon between Yatton and Kenn in July 2023. 

Teams will now work to test and commission the new line, including the new lattice pylons across the River Avon into Avonmouth, in preparation for energisation later this year. 
 

Using the T-pylon design, reduces the height of the new infrastructure by a third. At 35 metres high they are shorter than National Grid's traditional lattice transmission pylons and take up far less room on the land.

To make way for the new 400,000 volt connection, National Grid is removing 249 existing 132,000 volt lattice pylons, and overhead wires stretching 67 kilometres from the Somerset landscape. We’ve taken down 248 of 249 lattice pylons, the one remaining lower voltage pylon, in Portbury, will be removed early in the coming months.

We have begun reinstatement across the new connection route, removing construction access, temporary roads and work pads. You may expect to see more construction traffic on local roads and we will be in touch ahead of any traffic management impacts. 

Thank you from everyone working on the project for your patience and understanding as we work to towards full completion of this project which will play such a key role in helping the UK meet its net zero ambitions by transmitting cleaner, homegrown, energy around the UK – enough to power six million homes and businesses.

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Take a look at our detailed map

Tickenham to Portishead timeline