Roads shut on Sunday
Rolling closures are necessary on a Highland Perthshire B-road and a C-road this Sunday to enable a transformer load of 195 tonnes to be transported to the SSEN Kinardochy Substation project near Tummel Bridge.
The road closures are to be expected on the C447 and B846 on June 4.
The Static Compensator Transformer (SCT) is the largest piece of plant in the new substation, which is located around three miles from Tummel Bridge.
The new substation will ensure voltage limits on the transmission network remain stable and power flows can be efficiently managed, allowing for the connection of new renewable generation to the grid.
The first phase of the SCT’S journey was due to happen yesterday, June 1, with haulier Allelys transporting the huge transformer via a 24-axle specialist vehicle from Dundee Quay to Pitnacree, around a mile from Grandtully.
The convoy went under Police Scotland escort along the A90, M90 and A9 towards a dedicated waiting area near Pitnacree on the A827/ C447.
From there, the transformer will be transferred to a smaller 12-axle trailer, where it will remain until the second phase of the delivery, due to begin from 9am on Sunday, June 4 and is expected to be completed in a day.
The transformer will then make its final journey along the C447 through Strathtay, rejoining the B846 and crossing the Camserney Bridge, and continuing its journey up to Kinardochy Substation along the B846.
For safety, while the transformer is being moved in the second phase on the C447 and B846, rolling road closures will be implanted due to the narrow road widths, with diversions in place for road users via Aberfeldy and Kenmore.
No road closures are planned on any other routes.
Ssentransmission lead project manager Gary Milne said:“we’ve been planning the complex delivery of this vital component since before construction began on the project, making sure we could do whatever we can to ensure disruption is minimised as much as possible.
“The complex delivery has been carefully coordinated by our project teams, working with our specialist haulier, Allelys, Perth and Kinross Council, Dundee City Council and Police Scotland, to ensure disruption can be kept to a minimum for the local community and road users in the area.”