A multi-million pound project by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to upgrade and improve the electricity infrastructure from Longcross to Ascot has reached its half-way point ahead of schedule.
Over £7 million is being invested by SSEN to future-proof this 14 kilometre section of its Thames Valley network, building resilience in to the power supply serving the region's homes and businesses.
The project involves the undergrounding of sections of cable and the refurbishment of the primary substation at the site of the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment to strengthen the existing supply while allowing for future commercial and residential connections.
SSEN's Project Manager for the works, Anthony Horne said: "We're pleased to say that the Longcross to Ascot project is already half-way through; ahead of our planned schedule and on budget."
"We've ensured that residents and business owners have been kept informed of the works as they progress along the planned route and we've listened to any concerns that those living and working the area may have had."
"It was through these discussions that we were able to take steps to change our plans, so that pupils from a nearby school had no interruptions during their exams."
The next stage of the project will run from Devenish to the Surrey Border, along the A30 London Road with a temporary traffic management system in place from Monday 24 June to Monday 1 July.
Anthony added: "We'd like to thank residents, business owners and those visiting the area, where this upgrade to the local network is taking place, for their patience and understanding while we carry out these works as safely and efficiently as possible."
"This is a sizeable body of work; the substation element of the project alone will provide power to 10,000 customers, with the overall programme keeping the infrastructure resilient and secure for decades to come."
Letter drops will continue to be carried out to homes and businesses to update them on the phases of the project as it reaches their immediate area and, as some of the areas of the upgrade may lead to minor traffic management systems being used temporarily, details will be posted on www.roadworks.org.
To find out more about the project, please go to: www.ssen.co.uk/Ascot-Longcross/.