Homes and businesses in central Reading and the surrounding suburbs are set to benefit from an £8 million investment in the area's electricity infrastructure.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) will start work this week to replace nearly four kilometres of underground cable. The cable, which has reached the end of its working life, runs along the banks of the River Thames and forms part of the project that will include upgrading the local substation serving Reading's residential and business customers.
In addition, the circuit that serves the Northumberland Avenue area is undergoing a series of works to upgrade and replace the existing underground cable, building greater strength and resilience in to the electricity network and greatly reducing the risk of power cuts.
SSEN's Construction Manager for the Reading works, Miles Crossley explains further: "Reading is a thriving city and this programme of works will strengthen its existing power supply, while also allowing for future commercial and residential connections."
"The substation element alone will provide power to over 26,000 customers, with the overall programme of works keeping the infrastructure resilient and secure for decades to come."
"As always, SSEN aims to minimise disruption, while maximising the safety of our colleagues and our customers who may be in the vicinity of this project. For the duration of the works, SSEN will be available to address any questions raised by the community, so that all parties involved are able to influence any possible impact these works may have."
Letter drops will 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 of which will be posted on www.roadworks.org.