Engineers from Electricity North West will start work on a major project to enhance Salford’s power network, enabling continued green growth and decarbonisation.

The region’s electricity network operator is investing £11.6m in the underground electricity infrastructure which will improve reliability, enable more low carbon technologies like electric vehicle charging, and help attract more businesses to the city.

Following agreement with the local authority, work will start on Monday 2 June on Frederick Road.

Once complete, more than 24,000 homes and businesses are expected to benefit from the new 132,000-volt underground cables.

Vincent Cranny, Electricity North West’s head of capital delivery, said: “The investment we are making in the underground infrastructure will help improve reliability and increase capacity to allow homes and businesses to adopt low carbon technologies.

“As well as providing excellent value for money to support the continued economic growth of the city, the new cables will ensure we continue to provide a first-class a safe and reliable supply of electricity where it’s needed.

“The work is extensive and will have significant long-term benefits for Salford and the surrounding area. We are working closely with the council to minimise disruption.”

After starting on Frederick Road, teams will progress onto Seaford Road before moving onto Gerald Road. Engineers will initially lay underground ducts to house the cables before returning later in the year to pull each section of new cable into place and connect them to the network.

In what is a major project for the area, work is expected to last 17 months and the power network operator has communicated to customers where work will start initially.

Updates will be provided throughout the project and there will be continued close working with the council on each stage.