Engineers working on a £500,000 National Grid scheme to upgrade Dunstable’s gas network are gearing up for a double milestone next month as they complete works on the north side of High Street North and pass the project’s half-way marker.
Morrison Utility Services, which is carrying out the work on behalf of National Grid, is set to compete the final phase of the gas mains upgrade on the north side of High Street North by 16th August. Engineers are currently working on a 290 metre stretch between the junctions with The Lawns and Church Street to replace the existing cast iron mains with modern durable plastic pipes, which have a lifespan of at least 80 years if left undisturbed in the ground.
Completion of the work - much of which is now being carried out in the bus lane – will mark the end of the first three phases of the six-phase scheme to replace more than 2.5kms of iron mains. Engineers will then begin working on a 250 metre stretch of pipes in West Street before resuming gas mains replacement along the south side of High Street North at the end of September.
National Grid Construction Engineer Dilbir Chana said: “I am pleased to say that so far work on this ambitious project has progressed very smoothly and provided we don’t hit any engineering difficulties we will be on target to complete the north side of High Street North phase within our 18-week deadline.
“We’d like to thank local residents, businesses and motorists for bearing with us while the work has been underway and to ask for their patience and understanding as we begin the next phase of works in West Street. We apologise for any inconvenience the mains replacement has caused, however, these are essential works that will enable local people to continue to continue to enjoy safe and reliable gas supply for long into the future.”
To reduce disruption to the traffic network and the impact on the environment, National Grid is using a cutting edge mains insertion technique in which the new pipes are inserted within the existing iron mains. This enables the work to be carried out via a number of smaller holes rather than the long open trenches used in traditional methods.
If members of the public have any questions about this project, they should call Morrison Utility Services on 01462 444940.
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For further media information only, please contact Sara Wilcox, National Grid Communications on 01926 655271.