by Jim Hunter
THE first of the turbines that will drive the river-powered generation of electricity sufficient to power in the region of 380 homes have arrived at Woolston Weir.
When the project was first mooted several years ago it was anticipated that the sheer physical size of the turbines would necessitate them being brought to site by barge on the River Mersey. However the project contractors Hydropol, a Czech company, were confident that, with careful planning, they could be transported by truck down the narrow width of Weir Lane in Woolston.
Earlier this week the heavy lifting cranes needed to transfer the turbines from the transport to their position arrived on site, one of the transporters was so large that it had to be reversed the entire length of Weir Lane from Manchester Road to the site beside Woolston Weir.
The first of the turbines followed mid-morning and slowly made its way down Weir Lane to the site with only inches to spare as the photos show.
The remaining two turbines were being delivered to site today, Thursday (see below) and installed in-situ by the Hydropol team.
The project is currently scheduled to be commissioned and completed during June.
