Chester’s historic Old Dee Bridge will be closed to vehicles next month (August) to allow National Grid to carry out vital work to renew gas mains serving the city.
The work required urgently to meet Health and Safety Executive demands – has been planned jointly with Cheshire County and Chester City Councils, emergency services and public transport operators.
Starting on 11 August one-third of a mile of metallic main will be renewed from Mill Street, Handbridge, over the Old Dee Bridge along Lower Bridge Street to its junction with Pepper Street and Bridge Street.
One of the city’s best known landmarks, the 14th century scheduled ancient monument will close until September 1 but remain open to pedestrians and cyclists who may have to dismount.
Over 10,000 residents and businesses in the affected areas will hear about the scheme, traffic diversions and changes to bus routes via a door to door leaflet drop beginning today (Wednesday).
Static and variable message signs on affected routes from 28 July will warn motorists of next month’s work and consequent diversions.
And a web page at www.cheshire.gov.uk/roadworks will give regular updates on the scheme’s progress.
Said Craig Horrocks, National Grid Contract Manager: “The work has to be timed for the summer months when demand for gas is low. Engineers can then isolate sections of main and insert the new plastic pipe, avoiding the need for open excavations and turning off supplies.
“We apologise for the inconvenience our work may cause. There will be some disruption in the short term but the long term benefit will be a continued and safe gas supply for Chester homes and businesses.”
Preliminary work, which will not affect traffic, begins on July 28 and the three-phase project is expected to take until mid- November, unless work reveals the need for archaeological surveys.
Eveleigh Moore Dutton, Cheshire’s Executive Member for Highways and Transportation said: “Such projects within a city plan laid down by the Romans are always going to cause some disruption to 21st century traffic.
“But as with the closure of Hoole Bridge we will be working together to minimise disruption… both for our residents and visitors.”
Cheshire County Council ‘s Highways Department will monitor the situation - including any effect on the Grosvenor Bridge - through its traffic monitoring system and will take action, if appropriate.
“Managing the fine balance between protecting the economic interests of a historic city and maintaining essential services is always going to be difficult particularly when ,as in this case we are limited to the summer months”, said Councillor Stuart Parker, Chester City Council’s Executive Member for Development.
“However, working in partnership, we did achieve considerable success in reducing disruption with the Hoole Road Bridge which carried over 20,000 vehicles each day, compared to around 8,000 currently crossing the river on the Old Dee Bridge.”
FACT FILE: Built around 1387, the Old Dee Bridge replaced wooden structures built by the Romans, which were frequently washed away. It structure has remained largely unchanged since the time of Richard 11, who actually crossed it as a prisoner on his way to the Tower of London. In 1999, core samples taken from its sandstone arch barrels by county council engineers, revealed that their Plantagenet counterparts had met the requirements of the European forty tonne weight limit.
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For further information, please contact Ian Callister, Media Relations Manager on 01244 972216 or Jeanette Unsworth, Press Officer for National Grid on 07785 290230.