In January, Transpower crews will start work on the final section of the $100million national grid upgrade on the Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project.
Transmission line specialist crews are moving on to the Naseby-to-Livingstone section, to replace the single electrical wire with two wires (known as duplexing) on the transmission line to increase the northward transmission capacity for New Zealand from about 600MW at present, to about 1000MW.
The work, which is expected to be completed by winter, is part of Transpower’s upgrade of the national grid between Roxburgh and Livingstone, on the Roxburgh-to-Islington 220kV line.
Two crews, made up of more than 100 people in total, will be working along the Danseys Pass road from next month — one will be based near the south entry point, in Naseby and the wider Maniototo area, while the other, to be based in Oamaru, will work from the Livingstone end of the transmission line up to the top of Danseys Pass, at the Waitaki district boundary.
Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project director Roy Noble said the Danseys Pass road would remain open while the work was being carried out, but would be subject to constraints and motorists should allow extra time to travel through the area.
Members of the public would see heavy construction equipment, helicopters, crews and their vehicles, traffic management and signage in the area, and were asked to follow any instructions from the work crews and respect the closed areas.
Wiring project manager Neville Cole said Transpower was working hard to minimise the impact of the project on the public.
"To ensure the health and safety of the general public and crews, movements on the Danseys Pass road will be carefully managed," Mr Cole said.
"We expect brief delays but cannot rule out longer delays of up to one to two hours, depending on the requirements of the heavy construction works each day."
The work is not expected to impact on security of energy supply to nearby homes and businesses.
Mr Cole thanked the local community and holidaymakers in advance for their patience while the "important project" was under way.
The lines project is a significant part of Transpower’s support to shift New Zealand to electrification and a low-carbon economy by 2030.
