Newell Substation upgrade
We're upgrading Newell Substation to improve reliability, address safety risks, and meet projected load growth. This will allow us to continue to provide reliable electricity to about 59,000 homes and businesses in southern Burnaby as well as to other substations.
What's new
September 2026 construction update
Work on the Newell Substation Upgrade Project continues, with several major construction activities now underway. Graham Construction has completed the setup of the construction work zone and parking area on Beresford Street, and the temporary Highland Park Line Trail is now open and will remain available throughout construction. The trail will be restored to its original location once the project is complete.
Current construction activities
Excavation has begun for the new feeder building at the northeast corner of the substation near Kingsway and Griffiths Drive. Construction vehicles will continue to access the site through the east gate on Beresford Street.
Additional underground infrastructure work is also underway along Kingsway and Griffiths Drive. This work includes installation of new underground duct banks for electrical cables, preparation of a water service connection for the new feeder building, and relocation of an existing streetlight. This phase of work is expected to continue for approximately three months.
In mid-September, a self-erecting crane will be installed within the substation near Kingsway to support construction of the new feeder building. The crane will remain on site until summer 2027 and will be used solely for moving materials within the substation.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts
Temporary lane closures and pedestrian detours are in place along portions of Kingsway and Griffiths Drive to support underground construction activities. While active construction will generally occur Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., traffic impacts, lane closures and pedestrian detours will remain in place around the clock until this phase of work is complete.
Tree removal and replacement
One tree on Griffiths Drive near Kingsway is being removed to accommodate required underground infrastructure. To offset this impact, two new trees will be planted following project completion. Additional replacement planting is also planned for trees removed earlier in the project, with details to be confirmed as landscaping plans are finalized.
For more detailed information about construction activities, timelines, and traffic impacts, please refer to September 2026 Project Newsletter [PDF, 416 KB].
Newell Substation, located at the corner of Kingsway and Griffiths Drive in Burnaby, was built in stages from 1946 to 1955. The substation has been operating reliably for almost 70 years. Newell Substation is connected to seven other substations and serves about 59,000 customers (about 66% residential, 24% commercial, and 11% industrial). The substation takes high-voltage electricity from transmission lines and converts it to the voltages needed to supply power to customers.
We're planning to remove old outdoor equipment that's in poor condition (labelled Feeder Section to be removed in the figure below) and replace it with modern equipment housed in a new feeder building. We'll also replace one of three transformers at the substation as it's reaching end-of-life and make required upgrades to other equipment at site.
Newell substation upgrade project map
Select the project map [PDF, 821 MB] to view it at a larger size.
We'll also install underground infrastructure in Griffiths Drive to the east of the new feeder building and interconnect with existing infrastructure north of the site fence. We'll determine the specific location of the infrastructure and interconnections as studies progress.
Some land outside the fence on the south side of the substation will be used for contractor parking and work zone. During construction a walking path will be available but it will be located further south, closer to the road. After the upgrades are complete, we'll restore the sites not needed for future project work.
These upgrades will ensure that Newell Substation can continue to provide reliable electricity supply to residents, businesses, and other substations.
New feeder building
The new feeder building will be located on the northeast corner of the substation site (see figure above). This location was selected after considering:
- Safety
- Constructability
- Ability to connect to existing equipment
- Environment
- Community impacts
- Cost
Locating the building on the northeast corner:
- Keeps the building within the existing property line,
- Doesn't have permanent impacts to the greenspace south of the fence line,
- Is further from residences, and
- Is more cost effective.
Design of the new building is underway and current renderings are shown below.
| Key dates | Activity |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Vegetation removal. |
| Fall 2025 | Site preparation begins with bumping out the retaining wall in the northeast corner. |
| Summer/fall 2026 | Construction begins for the new feeder building. |
| Summer/fall 2026 | New transformer installation. |
| Fall/winter 2031 | Expected project in-service and removal of old feeder section begins. |
| Fall/winter 2032 | Expected project completion. |
The schedule will be updated and additional detail will be available as the project advances.
This upgrade will provide increased reliability to the electrical system, replace aging equipment that's nearing end-of-life, and help more of the community switch from fossil fuels to electricity. It will ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of the substation's service area and prepare for future growth in the area.
Reports and documents
- Project newsletter (September 2026) [PDF, 416 KB]
- Construction notice: Highland Park Line Trail relocation begins July 13, 2026 [PDF, 175 KB]
- Newell Substation information session (June 2026) [PDF, 1.1 MB]
- Open house presentation (January 2025) [PDF, 796 KB]
- Open house presentation (February 2024) [PDF, 611 KB]
- Newell substation project map [PDF, 821 KB]
Get in touch
If you'd like to share your feedback about the project or have any questions, please connect with us.
Email: projects@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 623 4472
Toll free: 1 866 647 3334
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