NORTHERN Powergrid will this month start the second phase of a £30 million scheme aimed at improving the reliability of the district's electricity network.

For the past ten months, the company has been installing around 26 miles of underground cables on a route from a major substation in Wilsden through areas including Allerton, Lower Grange, Crossley Hall and Fairweather Green, to Cemetery Road near Four Lane Ends. That phase included a section of Lane Side, Wilsden, which was completed earlier in the summer.

Phase two of the programme, starting on August 17, will see more than 50 miles of cable laid between the Wilsden substation and locations close to the city centre.

Work will be ongoing until the end of 2022.

This part of the scheme will involve digging in sections of Wilsden Road and Haworth Road.

From August 17 until October 2, traffic lights will be in operation while work is carried out along Haworth Road ­– the B6144 – between the junction with Bingley Road (B6269)/Toller Lane (B6144) and Stoney Ridge Avenue.

And from September 7 until October 16, a section of Haworth Road will be closed between Stoney Ridge Avenue and the traffic lights at Cottingley Road/Stony Lane. A signposted diversion will be in place.

Northern Powergrid says vehicular and pedestrian access will be maintained to homes and businesses on the route and there shouldn't be any interruption to electricity supplies.

Steve McDonald, the company's general manager for the West Yorkshire region, said: “We’ve already been working in the Bradford district for almost a year, during which time we’ve experienced a great deal of support and co-operation from our customers and stakeholders – for which we are very grateful.

“At the end of the day, although our £30 million investment will ultimately improve the reliability and resilience of the electricity supply to around two thirds of the district, we know that our work can also cause a degree of disruption while it’s ongoing. We will, of course, continue to work with Bradford Council to try to minimise this disruption, as well as looking at how we can provide support for the communities we’re working in as we move along the phase two route.

“We’ll also be continuing to follow the latest public health and Government advice to keep our employees, contractors and customers safe and our work will be carried out in line with the latest Covid-19 health and safety guidance. With this in mind, we’re asking customers not to approach our teams if they see them working unless it’s an electricity emergency – and, if they do, to always maintain two metres social distancing."

For details of how bus services will be impacted, visit wymetro.com or call 0113 245 7676.