A COTTAGE-sized electricity transformer begins the first leg of its journey to its new Wiltshire home on Sunday.

The transformer is starting a two-leg journey to its new home at Minety substation, between Malmesbury and Cricklade.

The size of a small cottage, the transformer will be transported from Avonmouth Docks to a storage facility on a special 60m-long trailer with a police escort mostly on the M5 and M4.

National Grid says the transformer will play a vital part in ensuring the region keeps on enjoying safe and reliable electricity supplies

Due to a weight restriction at the Hambrook Viaduct, the trailer will need to leave the M4, travel around Bristol on the A4174 before joining the A420 at Deanery Road Roundabout.

It will leave the A420 and join the A46, heading back to the M4 to continue its journey to a storage yard located near junction 18, before resuming its journey on Sunday, February 14.

The transformer is due to leave Avonmouth Docks at about 10am, arriving by the mid-afternoon, the journey having been planned to avoid the busiest traffic times.

To ensure the transformer can complete its journey drivers are asked not to park on the A420 between Deanery Road Roundabout and the A46, near Pennsylvania.

National Grid project engineer Peter Hancock said: “This is an essential delivery to replace an existing transformer.

“Once installed, it will play a vital role in helping ensure people across the region keep on enjoying safe and reliable electricity supplies.

“We’ve carefully planned this delivery to ensure it has as little impact as possible on road users and the community.

“To ensure the delivery can happen we’re asking people not to park on the A420 between Deanery Road Roundabout and the A46 near Pennsylvania.”

The transformer will leave Avonmouth Dock and travel northbound on the M5, joining the M4 and travelling southbound.

It will leeave the M4 at Junction 19 and join the M32, leaving the M32 at Junction 1 and joining the A4174 traveling east around Bristol.

Then it will join the A420 at Deanery Road Roundabout, travel eastbound to the A46.

There it will travel north on the A46 arriving at the storage yard near junction 18 of the M4.

Details of the second leg of the transformer’s journey will be announced next week.

For more information about the delivery call 0207 036 3520, 07917 130 573 or email NationalGrid@TransformerMoves.Com

Wiltshire Times:

A map of the route being taken by the huge electricity transformer on Sunday. Google Maps