On the night of 5 February 2026, from 9 pm onwards, teams from Energy South carried out work to dismantle three high-voltage power lines running above the A26 motorway near Beaufays.
This type of operation requires meticulous preparation. Working closely with our client RESA, the project managers carried out a thorough risk assessment to ensure the safety of all personnel and road users. This assessment led to the decision to completely close the motorway in both directions for the duration of the operations.
After obtaining the necessary authorisations from the Wallonia Public Service (SPW) and RESA, the teams were able to commence work. These operations must be carried out at night, when traffic is at its lightest.
The longest phase of the project usually involves closing the motorway entrances and exits in both directions. Once the area has been fully secured, the teams can proceed with dismantling the cables.
Technically, the operation involves releasing the tension on the cables, controlling their descent to the ground after the section has been cut, and then ensuring their removal. This final stage takes only a few minutes, but requires perfect control and precise coordination between the ground teams and those in the aerial work platforms.
Working on a completely closed motorway creates a unique atmosphere: the absence of traffic and the calm of the night provide unusual conditions for this type of operation. Thanks to the teams’ effective coordination and the professionalism of those involved, the operation went smoothly. The motorway was able to reopen in the early hours of the morning, ensuring both the safety of road users and the integrity of the road and electricity networks.
The following day, the teams returned to the site to continue dismantling the remaining sections in the neighbouring areas, thereby completing the entire operation.