Major £7m power supply upgrade in York

Northern Powergrid, the electricity distributor for the North East and Yorkshire, is carrying out £7m on an essential works to upgrade the power supply throughout the city. Existing 33,000 volt underground cables between Melrosegate, Campleshon Road and Gale Lane substations are due to be replaced.

Works are scheduled to start on Monday with a road closure in place on Melrosegate and Greendykes Lane at the junction with A1079 Hull Road. Two way traffic lights will be in place on Hull Road for five days, after which Melrosegate will reopen. Greendykes Lane will remain closed for a further two weeks with diversions in place.

Last night members of the public were warned that the major project would cause some disruption for residents and visitors

Dave Smith, project manager said: “This is a major project for us and essential if York’s electricity supply is to be protected and enhanced for the future.

“We realise some disruption will take place as we progress through the project and we’ve worked extremely closely with the council to ensure disruption is kept to an absolute minimum.

Mr Smith said the project was about ensuring York’s electricity supply was reliable and not prone to regular faults.

“Many of our underground cables were laid years ago, some in the 1950s, so the time’s come to replace them before they begin causing us and our customers problems,” Mr Smith added.

The works are being carried out by Interserve Industrial Services, on Northern Powergrid’s behalf. The planned route will include work in the following areas: Melrosegate, Greendykes Lane, University Road, Warmgate Stray, Route 66 Cycle Path, Hospital Fields Road, Reginald Grove, Campleshon Road, York Racecourse, Pulleyn Park, Hobmoor Stray, Danesfort Avenue and Gale Lane.

A spokesman for Northern Powergrid said: “Northern Powergrid and Interserve Industrial Services are committed to working closely with the community to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum and works are completed as quickly as possible to schedule.

“The programme for carrying out work in specific areas has been discussed with York City Council, the University, Environment Agency and York Racecourse to minimise impact.”