A glow up for Aston Clinton
Read how we addressed cable faults along London Road, Aston Clinton which had caused 17 streetlights to fail, leaving a busy route for drivers, cyclist and pedestrians unlit.
The streetlighting fault was discovered during routine maintenance activities from our own Buckinghamshire Highways colleagues and reported by local residents.
Map of London Rd, Aston Clinton
We brought in specialist investigation and repair contractors to determine the location and extent of the fault before repairs could be planned. The team carried out an underground utility survey using utility drawings and CAT and Genny equipment – specialist equipment designed to map out live cables and metal services such as pipes.
- CAT stands for Cable Avoidance Tool and, as the name suggests, identifies the location of underground utilities, such as cables and pipes. The Genny, or Signal Generator, works in unison with the CAT to aid the detection and tracing of underground utilities further*.
The SWA Cable Detection and Trace Equipment
The steel wire armoured (SWA) cable was traced and a fault resistance test was performed. A high-voltage signal was then sent into the cable, producing a distinctive popping sound that pinpointed the exact location of the damage.
- Steel Wire Armoured (SWA) cable provides excellent mechanical protection, ensuring durability in harsh environments. It is designed to withstand mechanical stress, direct burial and exposure to moisture and environmental conditions, making it ideal for mains electricity supply and underground systems.
With the investigation complete, the team developed and executed their repair plan. The damaged cables were repaired using two cable joints, and then tested to make sure electricity could flow properly. This resistance test confirmed the repair was safe and effective.
Excavation of the footway
Damaged SWA cables
Repaired SWA cables including cable joints
All works were completed in two days, including fully restoring power to the damaged cables and reinstating the dug up ground.
Thank you to the residents who reported the issue. Remember you can report a problem with a street or traffic light on FixMyStreet
Before and After streetlighting and footway works. Left - Left - Footway marking as part of the underground utility location survey. Right - Photo of the reinstated footway, after completion of works.