National Grid hits milestone on £130m network upgrade

National Grid is nearing the end of its current phase of work on the £130 million network upgrade between Lincoln and Stevenage.

This year engineers have installed 1,479km of overhead line between Stamford and Stevenage. It is the second phase of the project, with the first phase completing last year.

In total, engineers from National Grid and its contractor Morrison Energy Services have now installed 2,919km of new overhead line conductor as part of the project.

It means three of four north-south circuits on the electricity transmission network have been refurbished, with completion of the fourth circuit expected in 2024.

Edward Maddams, overhead line project manager for National Grid, said: “These are some staggering statistics when reflecting on the amount of hard work that has gone into this job to date, and I would like to recognise the great teamwork, dedication, and skill of all involved in the project.

“I would also like to thank the local communities and landowners we continue to work with, for their co-operation in enabling us to make great progress in maintaining the health of our network and ensuring it continues to deliver safe and secure electricity.”

Work on the transmission line which runs from Cottam Power Station, near Lincoln, to Wymondley Substation near Stevenage passing near Newark, Stamford, Peterborough and Hitchin started in March 2022.

The upgrade was needed to replace the original line, which was installed in the 1960s and is now approaching the end of its scheduled working lifespan.

The final circuit which runs from Cambridgeshire to Hertfordshire will be replaced to complete the project in 2024.

In addition to replacing the overhead lines, specialist teams climbed and surveyed 478 pylons along the 170km route and fitted around 80 tonnes of steel to reinforce the pylons to support the new line system.