Electricity transmission company National Grid is advising motorists, businesses and residents that abnormal loads are due to be moved in Kent over the weekends of Friday to Monday 19/22 February and Saturday to Monday 27 February/1 March.
New quad booster transformers will be delivered to Kemsley substation, near Sittingbourne, to help ensure London and the South East continue to enjoy safe and secure electricity supplies in the future.
The new transformers will be transported by heavy load specialists Abnormal Load Engineering (ALE) on a specialised vehicle that is 75 metres long. The vehicle will have a police escort.
Whilst the transformer is not expected to arrive at Kemsley until sometime between 12:00 and 4pm on 21 February it will be necessary for a large trailer to be delivered to site on 19 February. This trailer will remain at Kemsley substation overnight. On February 20 the trailer will then leave the substation and proceed to meet the transformer at its overnight stop off when it will accompany the transformer to Kemsley.
The first leg of the transformer’s journey will see it depart Chatham Docks at 10pm on Friday 19 February. It will travel along Pier Road, Sovereign Boulevard, Hoath Way A278 to the M2 junction 4. It will continue onto the M2 to junction 3, Bluebell Hill A229 to junction 7 on the M20 onto the A249 Sittingbourne Road, Old Ferry Road to (Old) Sheppey Way – north of Iwade, where it will stay overnight.
On 21 February the shipment will begin the second phase of its journey via Old Ferry Road, A249 Westbound, Grovehurst Road, Grovehurst Avenue and Ypres Drive. The trailers delivering the transformer will remain on site until 22nd February and are scheduled to leave the substation between 10.00am and 1pm.
Due to the logistics surrounding these deliveries, National Grid has requested residents keep Ypres Drive, Grovehurst Road and Grovehurst Avenue clear of parked cars at the following times:
Friday 19 Feb 10.00am - 3pm
Saturday 20 Feb - 10.00am - 3pm
Sunday 21 Feb - 10.00am - 4pm
Monday 22 Feb - 10..0am - 1pm
Saturday 27 Feb - 10.00am - 3pm
Sunday 28 Feb - 10.00am - 4pm
Monday 1 Mar - 10.00am - 1pm
(Old) Sheppy Way will be closed to traffic from 9.00am Friday 19 Feb until 4pm 1 March. Traffic will be diverted along Old Ferry Road.
Project Manager Richard Andrews said: “This is a huge piece of equipment to move and the route and timing of the journey have been carefully planned with the Highways Agency, police and local councils to minimise disruption.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank people in advance for their cooperation.”
There will be a second transformer delivery over the weekend of 27 February to 1st March and two more in April (dates to be confirmed).
In Kemsley village a flower bed on Ypres Drive has been removed so that the deliveries can take place. Local people can give their views on what should replace it at the Kemsley Youth House on Wednesday 17 February between 10am and 2pm and Thursday 25 February. between 9am and 2pm.
For more information about the deliveries and National Grid’s work at Kemsley please call our community relations team on 0800 021 7877.
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For further media information contact, Antony Quarrell, National Grid Media Relations on 07810 853075