National Grid is building two of the tallest pylons in the region to carry an overhead power line across the River Tees in Middlesbrough.

The work is part of a £50 million project to refurbish and replace sections of overhead line in the Middlesbrough area.

The new 145 metre tall pylons are being built so that the power line can be moved away from its current route through a chemical works to a location where the pylons will be more easily accessible for future maintenance work. A special crane has been brought to site to construct the new steel towers and in a few weeks’ time, a helicopter will be used to lift the wires which will run between the pylons while engineers attach them.

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Mark Brennan, Project Manager said: "This is a very tricky operation but our focus will be on carrying out the work safely. We need to build very tall towers to support the wires because of the width of the River Tees at the crossing point and the fact that we need to make sure there is a safe clearance distance for the ships which will pass under the line."

The line over the Tees is part of the network of overhead lines, underground cables and substations that carry high voltage electricity across the country. The investment will keep the lines in good working order to ensure that everyone has the power they need, safely, and at the touch of a button.

Engineers will be replacing existing wires and repairing or renewing steelwork, foundations and other equipment on a total of 30 pylons. Another 12 pylons will be dismantled and new ones built to replace them.

Work has been underway since last May, with over 60 workers mobilised and is expected to take until the end of this year to complete. There will be no interruption to electricity supplies during the work.

(CD)