St Heliers undergrounding project

The St Heliers undergrounding project consists of 15 streets, with a combined street length of 6.3km. It is a significant project and will result in the removal of 14.9km of overhead electricity lines. The project will commence in early 2022 and is expected to be complete mid-March 2024.
The map below shows where work is complete and the expected timeline of the outstanding work.

This area in St Heliers was chosen for undergrounding based on a number of factors, including the age, condition, and performance history of the existing electricity lines and equipment in the area, the number of customers who will benefit, and the opportunity to link in with fibre deployment and other infrastructure projects.

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faqs

Will my power supply be affected?

We may need to schedule a power outage to install and commission the new underground electricity network, however we will give residents ample warning if this outage is necessary. We will also need to schedule a brief outage for all properties individually as we change them over from the overhead supply to the new underground cables. Customers will be consulted in advance.

How long will your crews be working outside my property?

The work should only directly affect the road frontage outside each property for a small amount of the construction period.

How will the work be carried out?

Hours of work are expected to be between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday, though some work outside of these hours may be necessary from time to time.

All existing overhead services will be removed and placed underground as a part of this project.

Directional drilling will be used to install ducts wherever possible and will take place in sections along the project route. This will involve an excavation at the start and end of each drilling length and potholes at intervals. Excavations will mostly be in the footpath area.

Trenches may also be required in certain areas. These may remain open for several days until the cables are installed.

Material items such as drums of conductor may be seen laid out at various points along the site.

How will traffic flow be affected?

To ensure a safe and smooth flow of traffic, full traffic management plans are in place for the area. The work sites have been designed so that pedestrians will still be able to pass by the work. In most cases, the directional flow of both traffic lanes will be maintained.