Underground high-voltage cable guarantees energy supply around Bruges

In the future, we will dismantle the existing overhead line between Brugge Blauwe Toren and Waggelwater, ready to build a stronger, new high-voltage line (380 kV) in the same location. However, a local 150-kV connection between Blauwe Toren and Waggelwater will continue to be crucial to guarantee the security of local energy supply. This is why we are planning to lay a 150-kV underground cable between Blauwe Toren and Waggelwater. 

Most of the cable will be laid under the existing roadside and run from the Blauwe Toren high-voltage substation, via the Zeelaan, towards the Blankenbergse Steenweg, the Sint-Pietersmolenstraat and the Oostendse Steenweg and from there on towards the Waggelwaterstraat. The cable route, which will be 6.2 kilometres long, was established in consultation with the city of Bruges, the competent administrative authority and the Agency for Roads and Traffic. We want to start to lay the cable in April 2025. The works will take one year to complete.

Keeping disruption to a minimum

We will do our utmost to keep traffic disruption to a minimum when laying the cable and also put several extra measures in place. For example, we will lay the underground cable in lengths of one kilometre per trench section. Works on these trench sections will start separately to ensure that just one section of roadside is open at any one time and to limit disruption in time and location. The order in which the six trench sections will be dug is still to be decided, in consultation with the contractor and the various stakeholders. When doing this, other planned utility works will be taken into account too.

We will also carry out directional drilling at eight different points along the route. This should prevent any major disruption of the waterways or busy roads. So, directional drilling will be used to cross the N31, the Zeelaan and the Krinkelstraat, to cross the Zeelaan and the Blankenbergse Steenweg and to cross the Waggelwaterstraat, the Ghent-Oostend Canal and the Waggelwaterbos. There will be a temporary change in the local traffic situation while the works are underway. We will consult closely with the city and the police to keep disruption to a minimum. We will ensure, via the contractor, that signs are provided to make sure people are kept informed of the situation.

We also promise to take the usual measures to keep disruption to a minimum. Works will be done during the day and homes and businesses will always be accessible. If local residents are set to experience a specific disruption or diversions, they will always be notified of this personally; everyone will always have electricity. Finally, we will restore the roadside to its original condition when the cable has been laid.

See the map below for a complete overview of the cable route.