Laying of underground high-voltage cable Baasrode-Malderen on schedule

Work to lay an underground high-voltage cable between Baasrode (Buggenhout) and Malderen (Londerzeel) is on schedule. Approximately 1 km of the 10 km of cable has already been laid, between Broekstraat and Groenhof (Londerzeel). Today, another section of cable has been laid in the open trench in Kruisheide.

Construction of a new, 10-km underground electricity connection between Buggenhout, Puurs-Sint-Amands and Londerzeel has been underway since 24 June 2025. The work will take approximately 1.5 years (including commissioning). Once the cable has been laid, the overhead line will be dismantled. So, the 6.2-km overhead line and 43 pylons that have been a familiar sight for more than 100 years will disappear from the streetscape.

Approximately 1 km of cable has already been laid today, between Broekstraat and Groenhof (Londerzeel). This means that work is on schedule. On Thursday 25 September 2025, a cable was pulled in the open trench in Kruisheide (Londerzeel).

How does cable pulling work?

We start by digging a trench (gully) between 600 m and 1,000 m long. It is left open until the cable is laid in it. A cable drum is then used to pull the cable (a circuit of 3 cables) a distance of approximately 1 km along the trench. The cable sections are then connected to each other in the junction trenches. After laying cable and connecting it to the next cable section, We cover the cable with a controlled earthing layer (e.g. dolomite). A protective plate and warning tape are then added.

Finally, we restore the work zone to its original condition. Three cables are pulled at the same time and each cable pull takes about 2.5 hours.

The photos below show cable pulling in progress: