National Grid begins removal of pylons
National Grid has started to remove the nine kilometres of overhead lines and pylons that are close to homes and gardens in Nailsea, with the felling of three pylons on land owned by Nailsea Rugby Club. The remaining pylons will be removed between August and October.
The removal of the Weston Power Distribution pylons follows feedback from members of the community during consultation carried out between 2009 and 2014. It’s part of the 67 km of overhead line that will be removed by 2025, to make room for and reduce the visual impact of new T-pylons National Grid are building between Sandford and Avonmouth, which will run to the west of the town.
We’re in direct contact with every household that has a pylon in its garden, or where the wires go over the properties.
Where pylons are near roads and rivers, scaffolding will be erected before removing the overhead wires and dismantling the pylons. Balfour Beatty, the contractor for this work, will use controlled lifting systems to safely lower and recover the overhead wires.
“To keep everyone safe during the dismantling of the pylons, we’ll need to close some roads for short periods and use temporary traffic lights or stop and go boards,” said Aden Precious, Project Engineer. “This will include an overnight closure of the M5 between junctions 19 and 21, which is currently planned for September.
“We’re working closely with the local council and Highways England on this and we’ll be promoting information, including timings and diversion route maps, about the M5 closure in advance.” This table of current and forthcoming traffic management between Sandford and Avonmouth is updated regularly.
The work follows completion of the installation of new 132 kV underground cables between the west end of Nailsea and Portishead substation, which are being tested ahead of energisation.
We’re very grateful to everyone along the route for their understanding over the last sixteen months while we carried out this work.
“We’re very grateful to everyone along the route for their understanding over the last sixteen months while we carried out this work,” said Project Engineer Bruce Lockyer. “We’re now getting on with reinstatement and recently removed the temporary entrance that we’d created in Washing Pound Lane so we could install the cables. Our contractor J Murphy and Sons has also done a fantastic job using their skills to rebuild local drystone walls.”
The underground cables will become part of Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) network, directly replacing the overhead lines and pylons that we’re currently taking down. During 2023, we’ll remove the second line of WPD pylons that runs from the A368 in Sandford to Avonmouth.
