In the next few weeks, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) will begin a £3 million programme of works to boost the resilience of the electricity infrastructure in the Wokingham Borough area.
The first phase of the essential works to improve the security of supply - and therefore minimise the risk of power cuts - will start on Monday 3 April 2017 and run until Monday 1 May 2017, strengthening the network to meet the increasing demands in the Earley, Winnersh and Aborfield areas.
This initial phase of the programme will enable collaborative working with partner agencies who are aiming to improve other key services in the area.
Project Manager Yu Qian explains: "SSEN has carefully planned these works to minimise disruption to our customers and that has given us the opportunity to work with other agencies who are looking to carry out upgrades and repairs to the transport infrastructure in the same area. This has led to SSEN offering to replace the drainage system under Loddon Bridge, preventing any further flooding to the road there and meaning that all improvement works at the bridge can be undertaken in one project."
Yu continued: "SSEN appreciates that these works will result in some diversions to travel, so has timed them to coincide with a quieter period on the roads due to school and public holidays. Using innovative working, which allows the replacement cable to be pulled in trenches underground, also means that fewer areas need to be dug up and the length of the project is reduced."
To ensure the safety of residents, commuters and SSEN engineers during these works, a temporary traffic management system with road closures will be in place from the junction of Coppice Road to the junction of the A329 Wokingham Road. Residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity of the traffic management system are being given full details through hand-delivered letters, with communities outside of the area having information posted to them.
In addition, a community meeting is being held on Monday 13 March at the Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 4JZ between 5pm and 7pm, where all are welcome to come along, meet the team behind the works and chat to them about any concerns they might have.
SSEN wants to reassure its customers that throughout this programme of improvement it will do everything possible to minimise noise and disruption while building a stronger electricity network for Wokingham Borough.