Frequently Asked Questions about the De Maten cabling project

The latest schedule is available at apeldoorn.nl/high-voltage and is also shared via the newsletters. As soon as the dates of the works are known, local residents will be notified in writing by the contractor and Apeldoorn City Council.

Whilst the cables are being laid, you may experience some disruption caused by diggers, drilling work and lorries travelling to and from the site.

When the masts and cables are being removed, it may be necessary to temporarily close off sections of the streets. The contractor will let you know in good time.

Road safety – particularly for cyclists and schoolchildren – is the top priority during the works. The contractor pays close attention to this in the traffic management plan. Before work begins, the contractor will organise an information meeting. On apeldoorn.nl/high-voltage A map of the route will be displayed, showing the worksites and access roads. Local residents will also receive a letter containing information.

With underground cabling, the cables are laid in the ground. This is largely carried out using directional drilling. This involves drilling underground so that the cables can be laid without having to dig up the entire street. In a limited number of places, the ground is excavated. A strip is dug out (a trench) to lay the cables. Afterwards, everything is filled in again and the street or site is neatly restored. Roads or paths may be temporarily closed whilst the work is in progress.

View the overview map showing the locations of the directional boreholes

Watch the video of the cabling process in Apeldoorn Zuid (2013/2014):

• Video: Pulling cables

During directional drilling, local residents may sometimes notice slight vibrations, particularly when work is being carried out close to homes. This is usually brief and causes no damage. Open-cut excavation does not normally cause vibrations, but it does generate noise from machinery.

This depends on the contractor who will be carrying out the work. First, the guided drilling will be carried out. The contractor will then lay the cable sections. Long sections of the route will be divided into smaller sections.

The contractor takes around 4 to 5 weeks to complete each section. To join sections of cable together, a connector (sleeve) is fitted between the cables. A manhole where cables are joined (sleeve manhole) remains open for around 8 weeks.  The contractor will restore the area to its original condition once all the cables have been laid and tested. The municipality of Apeldoorn, in collaboration with the contractor, will ensure that the green areas are replanted.

Before we get started, we’ll organise an information meeting. The contractor will then explain how the work will be carried out and what this means for the local area.

If you have any questions or comments during the works, please contact them, or the site manager for the contractor and/or TenneT/Qirion. We will share their contact details with you as soon as they are available. You can find all the information at apeldoorn.nl/high-voltage. TenneT will soon be using Bouwapp to keep you informed about the progress of the work.

The route has been designed to ensure that no damage is caused to homes during the works. Before work begins, the contractor will carry out a preliminary survey of the homes near the worksites.  This involves taking photographs and recording details of the property’s current condition. If you do discover any damage to your property, we can compare this with the pre-construction survey.

No, that isn’t necessary. A number of high-voltage pylons are situated on commercial premises. TenneT will contact the relevant businesses regarding this.

In principle, this project will not affect the electricity supply. The works are planned in such a way that the electricity supply will remain unaffected. There is a small chance of a power cut, for example in the event of an unexpected fault or a technical problem. If a planned power cut is necessary, local residents and businesses will be informed in good time.

TenneT will leave the public area in good condition once the work is complete: the paving and tarmac will be repaired. The local council will replant the green areas. Trees cannot be replanted where a cable has been buried, as the roots could damage the cables. Some of the felled trees will be transplanted or replanted by the local council in the neighbourhood.

The removal of the masts will take place in two stages. First, the conductors (the overhead electricity cables) will be removed from the masts. This will be done in groups of three masts at a time. During this work, no one is allowed to pass under the cables. Roads and cycle paths that cross the pylons will therefore be temporarily closed. A diversion will be put in place.

The masts are then removed using a large crane. The mast is cut off at the base, near the mast feet. One crane lifts the mast, whilst two others stabilise it. The mast is then cut into sections from the bottom up. As this happens, the crane lowers the mast a little further each time. The steel is then removed. Before work begins, we will inform you of the schedule and the duration of the work.

The cabling process in Apeldoorn Zuid (2013/2014):

• Video: Dismantling masts

The maps show, for each sub-area, where the high-voltage power line’s protection zone was located before the cables were laid underground, and how this has changed since the cables were laid.

For most residents living along the high-voltage power line, this means they will no longer face any restrictions caused by the power line, for example when carrying out building work in their back gardens.

On a small number of plots, part of the protection zone will remain in place. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided. For these plots, the rules set out in the local development plan regarding building in the back garden will continue to apply. These residents are being or have been contacted by TenneT/Qirion. They will be contacted regarding the arrangements required for the underground cables, via a right in rem agreement (ZRO).

View the zones