Kirkby to Lister Drive - 275 KV Cable Replacement Project underway
On behalf of the National Grid, the Electicity Alliance - West is carrying out work to replace one of the city's large 275kV underground cable circuits that runs between the Kirkby and Lister Drive substations.
However, because the existing cable is crucial to the city's power supply and has to keep operating until the new cable is ready, a totally new route must be used for the new cable itself. You can download a leaflet which shows the new route (PDF [1.5Mb]. Download time 5 minutes 52 seconds based on a 56k modem. Will open in a new window).
The new cable will be installed in a trench approximately 1.3 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep. The majority of the trench will be excavated in roads along the route. If your road is affected, you will be contacted by the Electricity Alliance who will give you further information nearer the time of the works taking place closest to you.
The works will be undertaken from July 2007 and will continue until August 2009. A detailed traffic management plan has been developed to help minimise disruption and ensure the safety of local residents and road users throughout the project.
In a detailed press statement released on 10th July 2007, Mike Ryan, Project Manager at Electricity Alliance - West, says:
"The Electricity Alliance is a partnership between National Grid and 15 construction companies formed to deliver a major investment programme to update and develop the high voltage transmission network in order to maintain safe, secure and reliable electricity supplies across England & Wales.
National Grid is one of the worlds largest utility companies, focused on delivering energy safely, reliably, efficiently and responsibly. The company operates the high-voltage electricity transmission network across Great Britain, and owns the Network in England & Wales. In also owns and operates the high pressure Gas distribution network serving 11 Million customers.
Electricity for Liverpool and its suburbs is fed into the City via a network of high-voltage underground cables. The forthcoming works involve the installation of a new 275,000 volt underground cable between National Grid's existing sub-stations at Kirkby and Lister Drive. The new cable will replace and existing circuit, originally installed in the 1960's which is now nearing the end of its operational life. Work on the first section - Queens Drive to Muirhead Avenue will start early July 2007. Over the next two years 15 sections of cable will be installed on a rolling construction basis.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the works, there will be some disruption to local residents and businesses along the route. As we will be mainly working in the road, temporary lane closures will be required. We have developed a detailed traffic management plan in conjunction with the local authority highways department to help minimise the impact of the work and ensure the safety of local residents and other road users. During the course of these essential works, electricity supplies to residential properties and business properties will not be affected.
When undertaking major works such as these, minimising disruption to local communities is of utmost importance to the Electricity Alliance - West. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Electricity Alliance Community Relations Team on 0800 085 1326."
(PDF [1.5Mb]. Download time 5 minutes 52 seconds based on a 56k modem. Will open in a new window)