EirGrid to lay 50km of new electrical cables across Dublin

New plans to install 50 kilometres of electric underground cables across Dublin may cause traffic disruptions for the next five years.

Last week, EirGrid launched a public consultation for a “major programme” to upgrade the electricity grid.

“Dublin’s electricity infrastructure is ageing and reaching the end of its life, with some cables installed up to 50 years ago,” EirGrid said in a statement.

“The Powering Up Dublin programme aims to transform and modernise the city’s electricity infrastructure so that Dublin can continue to develop and thrive.

“The programme will strengthen important electricity infrastructure in Dublin and the surrounding areas, enabling the city to bring on board more electricity generated from renewable sources into the future.

“The five new underground cable routes to be installed as part of the programme will provide upgraded links between key electricity substations around Dublin.”

The new routes will link “substations” at North Wall and Poolbeg, Finglas and North Wall, Carrickmines and Poolbeg, and two cables will link the Inchicore and Poolbeg substations.

“The programme will further involve the construction of a new substation in Poolbeg, alongside the upgrading of substations elsewhere,” the firm said.

“Work on the Powering Up Dublin programme is scheduled to begin next year.”

The work is due to start next year and be completed by 2029.

Three options for routes have been put forward for each area with disruptions expected in each neighbourhood.

In the south, two of the three options travel from Poolbeg along Strand Road and third option would see the cable be installed from Poolbeg into the sea, before continuing through Monkstown and into Carrickmines.

Strand Road is also an option for the Inchicore to Poolbeg lines, as is Sandymount Avenue and Appian Way, and the south inner city including Ballsbridge and Merrion Square.

On the northside, Broombridge, Whitworth Road and Ballymun have all been flagged as potential locations for the Finglas to North Wall route while the North Wall to Poolbeg connection will be placed on land owned by the Dublin Port Company.

The extent of the traffic disruption and disturbance to residents will depend on what routes are chosen, EirGrid said.

“The width of the roads selected will determine the need for road closure,” a spokesperson said.

“Depending on location and width, we’ll be looking to lay between nine to 30 metres of cables a day.

“We’re trying to get a good gauge from communities of what actions may be most disruptive so we can mitigate this where possible.”

Sinéad Dooley, head of public engagement with EirGrid said the Powering up Dublin programme “will help deliver a consistent and reliable supply of electricity for Dublin. Work must be done now to ensure the city’s electricity infrastructure is fit for purpose, resilient and will endure long into the future.

“We want to work with the public and listen to local voices who know their areas best, so that we can collaborate as much as possible and minimise the disruption caused to them.”

The eight-week consultation launched last week and will last until Tuesday, May 23.

People can access the full plans and make their observations at Consult.EirGrid.ie.