Ergon’s digging to impact on traffic

FOOTPATHS will become earthworks across the Cairns CBD as Ergon Energy crews excavate to work on underground cables.

An Ergon Energy spokeswoman said the crews would be moving the cables across the city centre through the start of November.

“For public safety reasons, during excavation and other works there will be temporary footpath and road closures, including the northern lane of Shields St, from Abbott St to the Esplanade,” she said.

“Ergon Energy will work to minimise the disruption to local businesses, shoppers, commuters and pedestrians.”

It’s just one of the several disruptions Ergon has caused in the Cairns CBD this week, following two power outages, the first of which lasted for several hours.

More than 300 businesses were affected between the Esplanade and Sheridan St on Tuesday with about 12 blocks left without electricity to power lights and airconditioners. More than 1600 Ergon Energy customers in the Cairns CBD and Parramatta Park were without power on Monday, leaving traffic lights off along Mulgrave Rd and in the city.

An Ergon spokeswoman said that outage was caused by network damage, which required emergency repairs on both days.

She said the fault was between two CBD substations.

However she said the works being conducted through the CBD this month were not connected to the two power outages earlier in the week.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and we appreciate the community’s patience as our crews work to get a big job done efficiently and safely,” Ergon area manager Mitch Wyper said.

She said there were no planned outages during the cable work.