In pictures: Connecting the world’s first T-pylons
Hanging the wires that will carry low-carbon energy
In January, our contractor Balfour Beatty started hanging wires on the world’s first T-pylons between Bridgwater and Sandford. The installation of the wires – or conductors – means the T-pylons will then be ready to carry the high-voltage electricity from Hinkley Point C onto the network and connect 6 million homes to low-carbon energy.
The team started at the T-pylon north of Woolavington to the newly erected T-pylon, north of the River Brue and Merry Lane in East Huntspill, crossing the Causeway (B3141), the Huntspill River, and Burtle Road on their way.
The wiring work is progressing in sequence along the new connection route towards Mark, Tarnock and into the new substation at Sandford. We expect to finish building the new T-pylons and the wiring work south of Sandford substation by spring 2022.
Where the wires cross over roads, we are erecting scaffolding and using controlled lifting systems to hang the wires. We are also putting up temporary traffic lights and closing some roads for a short time to keep everyone safe while we work on the highways.
We’ll put up advance notice signs to let local road users know of any roadworks and traffic management in the area.
We recognise that our construction activity impacts local communities and work with our contractor to limit that as much as possible.
