Residents and motorists in Kempston are being advised of one-way traffic restrictions in Elstow Road as gas pipeline company National Grid starts the next leg of a 20 kilometre project to upgrade the town’s gas network.
Work will start on Monday (24th September) to replace one kilometre of cast iron mains in Elstow Road with new durable plastic pipes, which have a lifespan of 80 years if left undisturbed in the ground. Part of a £1 million scheme to secure gas supplies in Kempston until the end of the century, the Elstow Road works are expected to take eight weeks and will be spilt into two phases.
To safeguard engineers and road users during the first phase of works, Elstow Road will be reduced to a single lane and made westbound only between the junctions with Bunyan Road and Margetts Road. It will remain open to two-way traffic between Margetts Road and the A6 Ampthill Road.
Traffic heading east out of Kempston towards the A6 Ampthill Road will be diverted via Bedford Road, Kempston Road and Britannia Road.
The works and traffic management measures have been planned with Bedfordshire Highways Authority and the Police and details of traffic restrictions for the second phase of the works will be advised.
The work is being carried out on behalf of National Grid by the North London Gas Alliance, a partnership between National Grid and construction company Skanska-McNicholas.
Gas Alliance Zone Manager Kevin Blundell said: “Traffic restrictions will need to be in place while the work is underway to protect engineers and road users. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, however, we will endeavour to carry out the works as quickly and safely as we can. We would appeal to people to bear with us while we carry out this essential project.
“I am pleased to say that thanks to close working between the North London Gas Alliance, Bedfordshire Highways Authority, the police, utilities and other affected organisations the project is currently some three months ahead of schedule.”
The Alliance is currently completing work in St John’s Street and Manor Road and St John’s Street is expected to reopen to traffic by the end of today (Wednesday). So far, engineers have replaced 8.5 kilometres of pipes in the town.
The Kempston works are part of a 30-year programme agreed between National Grid and the Health and Safety Executive to replace all metal gas mains within 30 metres of properties.
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For media enquiries only, contact Sara Wilcox, National Grid Communications, on 01926 655271 or 07768 433211.