A massive electricity transformer will be taking to the roads near Bath today, Sunday 7th February, as it starts a two leg journey to its new home at Minety Substation in Wiltshire.
The size of a small cottage, the transformer will be transported from Avonmouth Docks to a storage facility on a special 60m long trailer with a police escort, travelling mostly via the M5 and M4.
Due to a weight restriction at the Hambrook Viaduct, the trailer will need to leave the M4, travel around Bristol on the A4174 before joining the A420 at Deanery Road Roundabout.
It will leave the A420 and join the A46 near Bath, heading back to the M4 to continue its journey to a storage yard located near to junction 18, before resuming its journey next Sunday (14th February).
The journey has been planned for a Sunday, today and next week, to avoid the busiest traffic times.
It is due to leave Avonmouth Docks at approximately 10am, arriving by the mid-afternoon.
To ensure the transformer can complete its journey people are asked to avoid parking on the A420 between Deanery Road Roundabout and the A46, near Pennsylvania.
Electricity transformers play a vital role in helping to deliver energy to homes and businesses.
National Grid Project Engineer, Peter Hancock explained: “This is an essential delivery to replace an existing transformer.
“Once installed, it will play a vital role in helping ensure people across the region keep on enjoying safe and reliable electricity supplies.”
He added: “We’ve carefully planned this delivery to ensure it has as little impact as possible on road users and the community.
“To ensure the delivery can happen we’re asking people not to park on the A420 between Deanery Road Roundabout and the A46 near Pennsylvania.”
The route the transformer will follow is:
Leave Avonmouth Dock and travel northbound on the M5. Join the M4 and travel southbound. Leave the M4 at Junction 19 and join the M32. Leave the M32 at Junction 1 and join the A4174 traveling east around Bristol. Join the A420 at Deanery Road Roundabout. Travel eastbound to the A46. Travel northbound on the A46 arriving at the storage yard near junction 18 of the M4.
Details of the second leg of the transformer’s journey will be announced next week.
