The Works: National Grid – 400kV OHL Stringing Works for the Hinkley Point C Connection Project
When: Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January 2023
Times: 08:00-17:00 daily
Traffic Management: A diversion will be in place via Avonmouth Way and Third Way
If the work is not completed this weekend, there will be a further closure over the weekend of Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2023.
Reason for the works – Hinkley Connection Project
As a key part of the Hinkley Connection Project, National Grid, with their contractor Balfour Beatty, started building the new lattice pylons in Avonmouth in July. In the locations where the pylons have been fully erected, we’ll start hanging the wires between those pylons from the 23 January.
When lifting the wires into place, our standard method involves installing a number of scaffold structures with a net between them to protect everything below. We’ve worked with Balfour Beatty, to adopt a method to reduce the number of scaffolds required on the land they occupy and on local roads, so to limit the impact on business premises and disruption on local roads in Avonmouth.
We’ll be using specialist controlled lifting systems to hang the wires. This method involves using ropes and blocks specifically designed to pull the wires between the pylons, and away from individual properties and businesses.
In the locations where erecting scaffold on either side of the road is necessary, such as St. Andrew’s Road, we need to close the road to keep everyone safe. We’ve worked with Bristol City Council Highways to schedule the closure during the weekend, to reduce local disruption as much as we can. We remain in regular contact with individual businesses to keep them updated. As shown on the map above, the closure on St Andrew’s Road has been carefully designed to ensure that access for the businesses is maintained where safe and practicable to do so during the scaffolding work in this location.
National Grid’s aim is to complete the scaffolding and netting work on St Andrew’s Road during the first of the planned closures on 21/22 January. Though the second closure on 4/5 February has been agreed with the Bristol Highways, we will only close the road during these dates if necessary. We’ll stay in touch with businesses to keep them updated as we continue our work build the remaining pylons to install the wires.
You can download National Grid’s information postcard here.