De-energisation of the Bronrôme – Trois-Ponts section and resumption of work after the winter cold period

After the scheduled pausing of the project over the winter period to ensure an electricity supply for the region, the section of the connection on which the rest of the work is planned has been de-energised. This de-energisation allows all involved to work under conditions of optimal safety. These works are the second important stage in Step 2 of the East Loop. The first stage was completed at the end of last year.

What do the upcoming works consist of?

The works commencing in March consist of renewing the section of the existing overhead line between Bronrôme (in Spa, where the first phase of the project – Bévercé - Bronrôme – was completed) and the Trois-Ponts electrical substation (located in the municipality of the same name). 

The project will be carried out with particular attention paid to local fauna and flora, in accordance with the requirements and recommendations of the permit obtained and the environmental studies previously conducted.
In the same way as the previous stages of the project, the work will be monitored by an ecologlist.

How will the works be carried out?

The plan is to first dismantle the existing connection before constructing the new one. Construction will be carried out at the site of the current connection. The project will progress from Bronrôme towards Trois-Ponts but occasional interventions deviating from this approach cannot be ruled out.

Preparations 
The project strictly speaking includes a preparatory phase in order to create access points to the work areas. For this, agreements are made with the owners of the land in advance. Users of the land are also contacted to inform them of the nature and duration of the works.
A site depot area is also installed in order to centralise the storage of the equipment necessary for the works. 

Construction of the new connection
Construction of the new connection begins with the laying of the foundations and the assembly of the structure of the pylons. The electrical conductors that are supported by the pylons will then be installed. On certain sections of the line, it is planned to place bird diverters on the conductors. These are devices that have been proven to be effective at enabling birds to spot the connection when flying and greatly reduce the risk of impacts with it.
At the end, the pylons will be painted green to blend into the landscape better.

Removal of access points and restoration of the site
Following the construction of the new connection and the works to be carried out within the enclosure of the Trois-Ponts and Brume electrical substations, the access points created will be removed. We will give you further information about this part of the project in a subsequent newsletter.

Based on the provisional schedule, the second stage of this major project should be completed in mid-2023.