As part of the ongoing ground investigations at the Lewis Hub site, contractors working on behalf of SSEN Transmission will carry out controlled trial blasting between Tuesday 21 October and 27 November.
The works are taking place to build a better understanding of the ground conditions at the site and to inform the detailed design of the project. The programme will include controlled trial blasting of rock, alongside associated ground investigation, processing and testing activities.
Targeted drilling will be carried out in preparation for the blasts.
The works will take place in phases rather than as one continuous activity, with one to two targeted blasts planned per week. Each blast will be confirmed 24 hours in advance.
Residents and road users may notice drilling activity, site vehicle movements and other associated works during the investigation period. Temporary exclusion zones and short-duration road closures may also be required around individual blasts.
Appropriate safety measures will be in place, including temporary exclusion zones, fencing and signage. Where required, short-duration road closures and temporary traffic controls will be implanted to maintain safety during blasting operations, with access arrangements managed as necessary.
The proposed trail blasts are similar in nature to the ongoing blasting works associated with the Arnish road upgrade, although they will be smaller in scale.
SSEN Transmission and its contractors will take the appropriate measures to manage the works safely and minimise disruption to the surrounding area.
Blastings are to take place from 2pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturday. There will be road closures on Arnish Road (without diversion) required for blasting. This is static and short duration, typically 10-15 minutes (15-20 minutes maximum).
Potential short term closure of CnES Turbine access track (within the Creed Business Park), will be around 10-15 minutes.
Although blasting activities are expected to take place between 21 October and 27 November 2026, the exact date and time cannot be confirmed at this stage. To ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information, key stakeholders will receive a further notification by email and/or telephone shortly before the blasting works commence.
The project team will provide advance notice of planned temporary road closures and blasting activity where required. The objective is to give stakeholders and road users clear information about the likely timing, expected duration and any access arrangements associated with the works.
If you have further questions, please feel free to get in touch via email:
