Work in Vogelzang, Steenovens and Buurtweg in Geel to start earlier than planned 

Elia is laying underground cables in Geel, Olen and Herentals. Work will start earlier than planned on 22 March 2021 in Vogelzang, Steenovens and Buurtweg 43.

There will be a temporary change in traffic rules in those streets while the work is in progress. Homes in the worksite zone will remain accessible at all times. Through traffic will be diverted. The work is expected to take about two months.

Herentals-Heze project 

Elia is upgrading the power grid between Herentals and Heze (Geel). This will be done by laying new underground 150-kV high-voltage cables in Geel, Olen and Herentals. Work on the Heze high-voltage substation in Geel started in early March 2021 and, as the project progresses, the worksite will gradually move towards the high-voltage station in Herentals. The work will be carried out in nine phases and will last until mid-March 2022.

Laying underground cables 

On 22 March 2021, the contractor, Engie Solutions, will start laying high-voltage cables in:

• Vogelzang between the McDonald’s and Steenovens

• Steenovens between Vogelzang and the field road (by the bend in the road)
• The agricultural area between Steenovens and Poiel
• Buurtweg 43 between Poiel and Velveken

The high-voltage cables will be laid under the road, after which the road surface will be restored. Directional drilling will be carried out in Steenovens between numbers 14 and 28. Homes will remain accessible at all times throughout the work. According to the current schedule, the works will take about two months. 

Traffic diversions

There will be a temporary change in traffic rules at various sites while the work is in progress: 

• In Vogelzang and Steenovens half of the roadway will be closed. This will happen in Vogelzang between the McDonald's and Steenovens. In Steenovens this will happen between Vogelzang and the field road (by the sharp bend in the road). Through traffic on both directions will be diverted via Groententen, Poiel, Herentalseweg (N13) and Antwerpseweg (N19). 
• Buurtweg 43 between Poiel and Velveken will be completely closed off. All traffic in both directions will be diverted via Velveken.   
• The road crossing between Vogelzang and Antwerpseweg will remain closed during this phase of the work. Through traffic via Antwerpseweg (N19) will not be disrupted by the work. 

Minimising disruption

Elia and its contractor are making every effort to minimise disruption. 

• Work will only be carried out during the day, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

•  Site vehicle traffic in the street will be limited. 
• All homes, businesses and agricultural areas will remain accessible at all times. Owners will be personally informed of any exceptions to these arrangements. 
• There will be no power outages during the work.