National Grid, the UK’s largest utility, is planning to replace 1500 metres of medium pressure gas mains in Hartford as part of a multi-million pound package of improvements to the North West’s gas supply network.
The £500,000 project to replace the metallic mains in School Lane with modern plastic ones will begin in mid August and is expected to be completed by March of next year.
To carry out the work safely, initially it will be necessary to implement the following traffic management arrangements which have been agreed in conjunction with the local authority.
Commencing 24 August, Bradburns Lane will be closed to through traffic for a period of 2 weeks while we work on the main near the junction with School Lane. This work will involve a lane closure at its junction with the Chester Road with temporary two way traffic lights in operation and traffic being diverted along Bank Road. All diversions will be clearly sign-posted and access frontages and the Day Nursery will be maintained.
As work begins in School Lane, commencing 14 September we will be implementing a rolling road closure beginning at the junctions of the A556 and Chester Road for 12 weeks. This will then allow access to the estates of School Lane. Traffic wishing to access the Chester Road will be diverted along Chester Road/Chester Way and Kingsmead. All diversions will be clearly sign-posted. Access to frontages will be maintained.
John Edwards, of the North West Gas Alliance – a partnership National Grid has formed with Balfour Beatty to carry out the bulk of the renewal work in the North West region said: “The gas pipes which run beneath the streets of Hartford have served us well but the time has now come to replace them. The new pipes will last at least 80 years once we get them in the ground.
The mains being replaced in the area are a vital part of the gas supply system to the area. The work is part of an investment of over £2 billion a year in National Grid’s gas and electricity networks in the UK.
John added: “We apologise in advance for any disruption but we are asking local people to have patience with us during our work. The short-term pain will be followed by a long-term gain – a safe and reliable gas supply system for many years to come.”
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 that lie within 30 metres of property
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For more media information only, please contact Jeanette Unsworth, National Grid Communications on 01926 655372