The Bradford routes affected as major power upgrade reaches final stage

The work, which started in September 2019 and will be ongoing until the end of 2022, involves excavating in the road to lay a total of 132km (around 82 miles) of new underground electricity cables with a route length of 17km (10.5 miles).

The work focuses on replacing five of the major circuits that supply electricity to approximately two thirds of Bradford’s homes and businesses and will ensure that the local electricity network is capable of meeting the existing demand for power as well as any future increase in demand as the population grows and more households swap their cars for electric ones.

By the end of March 2021, Northern Powergrid will have completed all of its main excavation works which has seen it digging in the roadway to lay ducting for new electricity cables at various locations in Wilsden, Thornton, Allerton, Fairweather Green, Four Lane Ends, Girlington, Sandy Lane, Heaton, Manningham and the city centre.

Between early April and mid-August, the company will be inserting electricity cables into the ducting it has laid between its substation on Back Lane, Wilsden, and another substation on Canal Road near the city centre, plus an electricity tower located on King’s Road. This will involve digging joint bays - compartments in the roadway measuring around  13 metres long x 4 metres wide x 1.3 metres deep - where the new cables will be joined together.

There will be one associated road closure on Heaton Park Drive from Branksome Crescent to the junction of Heaton Road. The closure will be in place from mid-May for around six weeks, with a signposted diversion in place along Toller Lane, Leylands Lane, Highgate and Heaton Road.  Northern Powergrid will write to everyone directly affected with more information.

Additional work will take place using temporary multi-way traffic lights or by operating narrow lanes for around six weeks at each of the following locations, with start dates as follows: 

Lane Side, Wilsden, near the junction of Badgergate Avenue - early April 

Wilsden Road, near the junction of Shay Lane - mid-April 

Wilsden Road, near Lower Swain Royd Farm - mid-April 

Haworth Road, near Bay of Biscay cottages - end of April 

Haworth Road, near Tesco Express - early May 

Haworth Road,  near Haworth Road Methodist Church - early May 

Toller Lane, near the Hare and Hounds Public House - mid-May 

Heaton Road, near the junction of Oak Lane - end May 

Oak Lane, near the junction of Mansfield Road - early June 

Manningham Lane, near the junction of Queen’s Road - early June 

Station Road, between Queen’s Road and Canal Road - mid-June 

There are no plans to turn off anyone’s power as part of this work and pedestrian access to premises will be maintained at all times.

Northern Powergrid is advising motorists to allow longer for journeys and thanks all of its customers for their ongoing patience while this important investment in the local electricity network continues.

A spokesperson for Northern Powergrid said: “Once our cable laying and jointing work is completed towards the end of July this will conclude the most impactful part of our £30 million investment to provide a modern and reliable power network for Bradford. Although our work in the area is continuing until the end of 2022, much of what we’re doing from July this year onwards will be on private land or within our own substations.

“As we complete our programme of digging joint bays and inserting our new electricity cables, we’re providing as much notice as possible so that people can plan ahead to avoid disruption. We’ll be communicating directly with all affected customers via letters and we’ll also be keeping local  councillors and the local media fully up to date with what we’ll be doing and when.”

“We’re extremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the local community during our work in the area which has meant we’re looking to finish this final phase of our work in Bradford early, reducing the amount of disruption for customers.”