Engineers from the North London Gas Alliance (a partnership between National Grid and Skanska McNicholas) will start work on the 12 May to renew gas mains in the town centre.
Phase one of the project commencing in Marshgate will run from the rear of Marks & Spencer to Park Place. This involves replacing 67 metres of old iron gas main with new durable plastic pipe and is expected to take approximately five weeks to complete. The work is in the pedestrian area and traffic is not expected to be affected.
As part of this phase we will also begin work in Queensway where we are replacing 50 metres of pipe, which is estimated to take two weeks to complete.
Due to the engineering methods in use it may be necessary for us to begin work in Marshgate then move onto Queensway before returning to complete the works on Marshgate, which could mean that you will not see our engineers working in these areas at the same time. You may be assured however that when we are not working in a specific area that our works will be left secure and will be safety cordoned off.
John Chalkey, supervising engineer of the North London Gas Alliance said: “This is the first phase of the town centre project and is a huge investment in the area. When complete the whole of the town centre gas network will have been replaced with plastic pipe which, if undisturbed, will last around 80 years and require little or no maintenance.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience to people in the town centre pedestrian area, but we are working with new engineering techniques which will keep disruption to a minimum.
“We are working closely with Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council and we can assure local traders that access to their premises will be maintained at all times whilst we are working in the town centre.”
The project is part of National Grid’s 30 year programme to improve the safety and reliability of the gas supply network by replacing all metal gas pipes within 30 metres of property.
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For further information contact Carol Lloyd, National Grid Communications on 01926 655372.