SSEN Distribution has announced month-long programme of infrastructure upgrade works at Loch Ness, to improve the reliability of supplies to over 1,300 homes and businesses, as well as boosting network capacity.

The project starts on 2 May and is scheduled to finish by the end of the month. Teams will be working every day on a route between Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus to replace wooden poles and overhead lines, as well as carrying out essential tree-pruning near the electricity infrastructure.

The steep, tree-lined slopes along the A82 and Loch Ness contribute to the beautiful scenery which this part of Scotland is so famous for and, given this challenging underfoot terrain, the logistics of carrying out this essential network upgrade have been many months in the planning with key stakeholders.

Project Manager, Paul Phillips, said: "We want to ensure we're doing all we can to provide our customers with a safe, secure and reliable power supply all year round. As part of this commitment, we've got an ongoing programme to replace equipment which is coming to the end of its scheduled working life.

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"And in the case of this project along the A82, we're also upgrading the infrastructure at the same time – when we're putting up the new lines these will be installed on uprated poles which, in turn, will be able to transport higher loads of power when demand on the local network increases. In addition, we'll also be carrying out tree-pruning to minimise the risk of any branches being blown into our lines during the high winds that this area can typically experience."

And with part of the project's route taking in the Great Glen Way, SSEN Distribution has confirmed that access for walkers will remain open throughout the project; however, there will be occasions when visitors will be asked by project staff to wait for a short time at designated points along the route, so that deliveries or equipment-moving to be carried out safely.

For everyone's safety – both those working on the hillside and also road-users on the A82 - 24 hour traffic management will be in place in sections to limit traffic flow to a single lane, away from the immediate vicinity of the work zone.

Paul Phillips continued: "Working on such a steep, tree-lined part of the country comes with its own unique set of challenges. In addition to the traffic management which will be in place along sections of the A82, we're also going to be erecting special safety barriers at the bottom of the hillside all the way along the route to prevent any debris falling onto the road and in the way of road-users."