Work on high-voltage line to start in February 2021

Elia will start work on upgrading the Massenhoven-Van Eyck high-voltage line in early February 2021. The high-voltage line will be equipped with a new type of electrical wire. The work will be completed by the end of 2024. Elia is taking various measures to minimise the impact of the work.  

New type of power lines on existing high-voltage line

The high-voltage line between the 'Massenhoven' and 'Van Eyck' substations in Zandhoven, Kinrooi and Maaseik is being equipped with a new type of HTLS that can carry more electricity. The entire high-voltage line is 92 km long and spans 15 municipalities in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg. The reinforcement work is being carried out in two phases.

• From February 2021 to the end of 2022, Elia will work in the municipalities of Meerhout, Balen, Ham, Hechtel-Eksel, Peer, Oudsbergen, Bocholt, Bree and Kinrooi. In these municipalities, electricity wires hang along one side of the high-voltage pylons. First, Elia will install an additional wire system on the other side of the pylons. The existing wire harness will then be replaced with new electricity wires.
• From the beginning of 2023 until the end of 2024, Elia will work in the municipalities of Zandhoven, Grobbendonk, Herentals, Olen, Geel, Laakdal and Meerhout. Most of the high-voltage line here already has electricity wires on both sides of the high-voltage pylons. Both sets of wires will be replaced by new electricity wires one after the other.

Measures to limit the impact on the environment

• Elia restores the site to its original state once work is complete. 
• Elia prefers to set up work depots in existing industrial zones or paved areas to limit disruption for the environment and nature. 
• Elia promises local residents that they will always be able to access their homes.
• Work is not performed during the night, so no depots or sites are lit up at that time. 
• Site traffic uses the shortest, safest and most accessible routes. 
• Elia uses gantries when removing or pulling cables close to railways, roads or other key infrastructure with a view to minimising the impact on the surrounding area. 
• If normal traffic has to be diverted, the diversions will be agreed with the road authority (the municipality or the Flemish Region) and clearly communicated to local residents.