National Grid is investing £1.4 million in a 12-month project to improve the gas pipeline network in Lutterworth.
Engineers from the M1 Corridor Gas Alliance, a partnership between National Grid and Amec, will be replacing around 16 kilometres of old iron gas mains with new hard-wearing plastic pipe which will ensure safe and reliable gas supplies for many years to come.
The work is due to be carried out in three phases:
Phase One:
Work starts this week in the High Street, Lower Leicester Road and Market Street either side of the A425 and is expected to take around 16 weeks. Around five kilometres of new plastic pipe will be inserted into the old metal pipeline where possible, reducing the need to dig holes and keeping disruption to a minimum.
Phase Two:
Work also starts this week in Lutterworth Road, Bitteswell Road, George Street, Market Street and Coventry Road and is expected to take around 12 weeks. The geography of the area means it is not possible to use insertion techniques here and around three kilometres of new pipeline will be laid in trenches.
Phase three:
Work to replace eight kilometres of gas mains north and south of the Coventry Road is anticipated to begin in late August or early September and will take approximately 20 weeks. The new pipe will be inserted into the old one wherever possible..
This essential work will improve local gas supplies and forms part of National Grid’s mains replacement programme, agreed with the Health and Safety Executive, to replace all metallic mains within 30 metres of buildings.
To minimise disruption to local residents, pedestrians and traffic, the project has been planned in close consultation with the local authority. Once work has begun we may need to use temporary traffic lights at certain points along the route, but we will publish details in advance if they are required.
The work should not affect individual gas supplies, but when the new main is connected it may be necessary for our engineers to visit properties to turn gas supplies off and back on again safely. We will notify local residents and businesses in advance if they are affected.
Project engineer Ian Brammall said: “We are committed to carrying out our work as safely and efficiently as possible. The work has been planned carefully with the local authority and we will be working to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. We apologise for any inconvenience the works may cause, but the end result will be a safer, more secure and more reliable gas supply for local people. If left undisturbed the new pipes should last for a minimum of 80 years.”
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For further media information contact Carol Lloyd, National Grid Communications on
01926 655372