£2.8m upgrade work to begin in Plymouth
Residents in Plymouth are being warned of potential disruption when essential network repairs start next week.
More than a kilometre of high voltage cable needs to be replaced along Holdsworth Street, Central Park Avenue, Siding Road, Apsley Road, Sutherland Road, Sutherland Place, Houndiscombe Road and St Lawrence Road.
Preparation work will start on Monday 20 February at Houndiscombe Bridge on Sutherland Road where traffic lights will be in operation for a lane closure. A footpath on one side of the bridge will remain open to pedestrians.
The main works on the £2.8 million upgrade, which will boost the reliability of electricity supplies, will start on Monday 13 March from Holdsworth Street working towards St Lawrence Road.
Power supplies for customers won’t be affected, but temporary traffic lights while be needed on Central Park Avenue from 28 March-21 April, Sutherland Road from 8-26 May and Houndiscombe Road from 16-26 May.
Some roads will be closed – Holdsworth Street from 20-31 March, Siding Road from 17-21 April, the turning off of North Road into St Lawrence Road from 17 May to 18 August and the lower part of St Lawrence Road from Evelyn Place from 17 May to 7 June.
Homes and businesses affected have received letters from us, outlining the project and its impact. It also includes some work in Central Park, but this will not affect people who use the green space.
Gary Beasley, Project Engineer for National Grid in Plymouth, said: “This is a substantial investment to upgrade our 132kV network locally, which has previously suffered faults causing disruption to customers.
“This work will prevent such issues and improve the network so it can meet the needs of residents for the next 50 years and enable them to connect low carbon technologies, like heat pumps.
“We have liaised with the city council to minimise disruption – including weekend working to get the job done quicker – but we apologise for any inconvenience that is caused.”
City councillor Charlotte Holloway, who represents Drake Ward, said: “I have spoken with the team at National Grid about the proposed closure of Houndiscombe Bridge and have been pleased at their proactive approach taking on the concerns which I raised in the past that any closure would create worries about safety from local residents and those who use this route frequently.
“Whilst this essential infrastructure work needs to be done, I am pleased we have agreed an arrangement which will keep a footpath and one lane for street traffic open, minimising the impact and potential safety concerns on those most affected.”