The Anguilla Electricity Company Ltd. – ANGLEC marks a significant milestone for 2019 with the successful installation of trenching and manholes as part of the first phase in the company’s initiative, “The Valley Underground Project”. The project, whose preliminary planning dates back as far as 2015, will distribute electricity underground through The Valley and into Stoney Ground. The entire project is expected to be complete within the next 3 years.
In early 2017 ANGLEC conducted two consecutive undergrounding projects in Corito and Rey Hill to prepare for The Valley Underground project. After the cataclysmic destruction of Hurricane Irma, the importance of continuing the extension of ANGLEC’s underground infrastructure came into sharp focus.
ANGLEC made a commitment to the public that The Valley Underground Project would be a top priority following the restoration of ANGLEC’s infrastructure post Hurricane Irma and in the final quarter of 2018 that commitment was met with action. A team of ANGLEC engineers and external contractors lead by, ANGLEC’s Transmission and Distribution Manager, Mrs. Mariscia Roach-Grant, broke ground on trenching and manhole construction for the first leg of The Valley Underground Project which runs from Rey Hill to the main road adjacent the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport. Over the past few months the team completed construction and pulled the electrical lines through the underground conduits to Rey Hill, which allows for the future distribution of electricity.
Currently, the final testing and commissioning necessary to activate this leg of the underground system is being conducted. Once completed, it will be possible for high voltage electricity to be distributed underground in the area and soon after right into the main Valley area, allowing for a new level of system resilience and service to commercial customers.
In the coming months, The Valley Underground Project will enter its second phase of construction which will extend the underground system directly into the heart of The Valley. The third phase of the project will continue trenching from The Valley central to Stoney Ground, the goal being to service the Princess Alexandra Hospital directly through the underground system.
ANGLEC recognizes the urgent need for more underground infrastructure as natural disasters threaten our region each year. “After Hurricane Irma, our customers rallied around the idea of putting our entire system underground. For many years we have been quietly working towards that reality against terrain and market challenges that make our journey to extending underground infrastructure more difficult than in other countries. To do the entire island is an extensive initiative, costing in excess of several hundred million dollars, but it’s something we plan to do one project at a time.”- David Gumbs, ANGLEC CEO.
The upcoming second phase of The Valley Underground project will consist of approximately 2,5037 ft of infrastructure that will service the airport and businesses in parts of the central Valley area, requiring extensive digging, on and around the main roads of The Valley.
“Our goal is to begin the second phase as soon as possible, hopefully no later than the first half of the year. This next phase will take the underground project along the main road from the airport to a designated area near the Flow and Social Security building.” -Mrs. Roach-Grant noted.
While there is still a great deal of planning to complete before phase two begins, the team looks forward to using this time as an opportunity to partner with other entities as the final preparations are being made.
One such partner in the process to date has been the Ministry of Infrastructure Communications Utilities and Housing – MICUH. Mrs. Roach-Grant and her team have worked closely with MICUH Road Engineer Mr. Shaynis Connor who aided in the planning and success of phase one and considers the project an important development for Anguilla.
“This project is important as it adds resilience to enable critical infrastructure within the capital commercial district to continue operations immediately after a natural disaster. It also makes provision for existing and planned critical infrastructure within close proximity to the commercial area to be phased in.” Mr. Connor went on to caution the public on road safety during the duration of the project. “Drive with due caution and care when project is being implemented and pay special attention to traffic warning and direction signs that will be posted.”
ANGLEC thanks the public for the continued support and looks forward to providing more information on The Valley Underground Project over the course of the year.
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– Press Release
