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The 50-kilometer extra-high-voltage line between Pradella and La Punt is being expanded. Based on an evaluation of the pylon statics, it was decided to replace rather than reinforce 50 pylons. As a result of this change to the project, the commissioning of the expanded line will be delayed by at least one year and is now scheduled for 2022.
The expansion of the 380-kilovolt line between Pradella and La Punt is a Strategic Grid 2025 project. The expansion of the grid will improve the supply to the canton of Grisons, secure the transport of hydropower from the Engadine and strengthen the connection to the European electricity grid.
During the preparations for the construction work for the extension of the line between Pradella and La Punt, Swissgrid checked the pylon statics and found that some pylons had too little load-bearing capacity to extend the route. Based on these findings, Swissgrid has decided to replace 50 pylons out of a total of 127 pylons, instead of reinforcing them. This project change will not result in any changes to the route. As a result, the commissioning of the upgraded line will be delayed by at least one year and is now scheduled for 2022. This project change will be published by the municipalities over the course of the next three days (from today, 19 September 2019 until 21 October 2019).
Over the past two years, Swissgrid has reinforced the pylon foundations between Pradella and La Punt. The civil engineering work for the entire project will be completed this autumn. In the next step – after approval of the project change – the pylons will be replaced where necessary.
As an alternative measure for the Pradella - La Punt grid project, Engadiner Kraftwerke (EKW) is replacing the 60-kV overhead line between Pradella and Bever with a 110-kV underground cable. The first section between Pradella and Zernez was put into operation in the summer of 2019. The commissioning of the second section between Zernez and Bever and the dismantling of the 1,100 pylons will follow in the autumn of 2019.
