National Grid will be carrying out a £1.5 million investment project to replace 15 kilometres of iron gas pipes in Burbage, Lash Hill and Sketchley Hill from 15 July.
Works start on 15 July along Burbage Road (B4699) from the junction of Elm Tree Drive to Hinckley Road. The work will be in the pavement and should not affect traffic and this section is expected to take five weeks to complete.
Work will then move onto Hinckley Road, from 17 August, where there will be a road closure from the junction with Burbage Road to Grove Road and including Forresters Road up to the junction with Sunnyhill.
Access to residents ONLY will be maintained at all times. A diversion will be in place for the duration of the 16 weeks road closure.
This project is being carried out by the M1 Corridor gas alliance, a partnership between National Grid and AMEC. The majority of the gas pipe being replaced will take advantage of an insertion technique, where the new polyethylene plastic pipe is inserted into the existing metal pipe. This reduces the size of excavations and the amount of time we are in an area.
The only section which will use the traditional open cut excavation method, is the where the road closure will be. This is due to a larger pipe being laid, to cater for an increase in gas supply in the area and for the future.
The remaining part of the project is in the rectangle of Burbage Road/Hinckley Road, Forresters Road/Featherston Drive, Rugby Road (B4109) and Brookside. Work is due for completion by March next year.
Paul Lynch, project manager, said: ”We have worked very closely with the local highways authority to ensure we keep disruption to the absolute minimum. We will be taking advantage of the school holidays to carry out the work on Burbage Road when there is less traffic along this route.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause, but it is essential gas pipe replacement work to ensure everyone can continue to rely on a safe and secure gas network.”
This project is the start of National Grid’s programme of works to replace 140km of metal gas pipes in Hinckley and the surrounding area over the next three and a half years.
Gas supplies will only be affected when the gas supply is being transferred from the old gas pipe to the new one. Residents and businesses will be notified in advance when this will be happening in their street. Supplies will only be disrupted during that day.
Please ensure you ask for identification when our engineers come to your door. If in doubt ask a neighbour to help or do not let them in.
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For further information please contact Stephanie van Rosse, National Grid Media Relations on 01455 231131