Night work on high-voltage pylon in Aalst completed successfully

Night work on the high-voltage pylon alongside the towpath, near the new lock, has been completed successfully. The highest part of the pylon (the pylon head) has been replaced with a new one and rotated a quarter turn. Work on the conductors (high-voltage lines) will start next week.

On the night of 14 to 15 July 2025, a large crane was used to remove the pylon head (the top section of the high-voltage pylon). After setting up the crane next to the new high-voltage substation on the Erembodegemstraat in Aalst, it extended across the Dender in the direction of the 55-m high-voltage pylon alongside the towpath. Work started at about 12.30 a.m. and finished at about 4.00 a.m.

Railway infrastructure manager Infrabel closed the track at about 12.30 a.m.; work was then able to start. We removed the old pylon head (the peak first, followed by the rest of the pylon head) and then fitted the central section and upper crossarms in one piece. At 4.00 a.m., the track was reopened in consultation with Infrabel and train traffic resumed. The work went well, thanks to the good preparation and collaboration between the project team and the various stakeholders.

The final phase

On the night of 15 to 16 July 2025 (Tuesday to Wednesday), the large crane was used to install the peak on the pylon head. Today, the middle and lower crossarms will be fitted by hoisting them onto the existing upper crossarms. All the work to be done on the high-voltage pylon will then have been completed. This work is necessary because the current overhead line and pylon will be replaced by an underground cable under the Dender that establishes a connection with the new high-voltage substation. So, one of the two overhead lines that cross the Dender will disappear. Preparation work was carried out last week. To ensure that employees are able to work safely, scaffolding was also erected over the railway line. Rotation of the pylon head will also have consequences for the high-voltage line (which runs from the pylon towards Plong) connected to it. Elia will replace part of this line during daytime hours in the week of 24 July. The new connection will be activated in August 2025.