Work to start on £12m project to help keep the lights on

Photo: National Grid

Work to start on £12m project to refurbish an 11km long overhead power line

National Grid engineers are starting preparation work this week as part of a major six month project to refurbish an 11km long overhead power line running between electricity substations in Rochdale and Whitegate, near Chadderton.

The project will see new wires and fittings installed on the 36 pylons that make up the line which has been in constant service for nearly 50 years.

The company is writing to home and business owners along the route to explain what they will see as work gets underway.

Electricity supplies will not be affected by the work and no new pylons will be built.

Over the next three months, some trees and vegetation will be cut back and trackways will be laid to provide temporary access for workers, machines and materials.

Work on replacing the line and its fittings will start in August and is expected to be completed by the end of October.

Ryan Hatcher, National Grid Project Manager said: “The line between our substations in Whitegate and Rochdale was commissioned just under 50 years ago and has given us excellent service ever since. However, the wires and the fittings on the pylons are now reaching the end of their lifespan and so we are going to install new ones. This will ensure that power continues to flow uninterrupted along this line, helping keep the lights on in this part of Greater Manchester and beyond.”

Engineers will keep noise and disruption to a minimum.

Ecology surveys have been done in along the route to make sure the project causes as little disturbance as possible to local wildlife and work will comply with environmental legislation.

People with questions about the work can call National Grid’s community relations team on 0800 819 9071 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. There is an answerphone service outside of these hours.