A major £1million scheme to improve the gas network in Albrighton is due to start at the end of the month. The project will see more than 40 roads across the town have their old metal mains replaced with new hard wearing plastic pipe to ensure residents continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply..
Work is due to start at the end of the month and is expected to take around six months to complete. Three teams of engineers will be working in the town in a bid to complete the project as quickly as possible. Most of the work will take place in residential areas and is not expected to cause any disruption to traffic.
The new pipe will be installed using a process called insertion where the new pipe is pushed through the old one. This reduces considerably the amount of digging needed which in turn speeds up the work and lessens the disruption caused.
National Grid project manager Kevin Williams said: ‘We are aware that Severn Trent has been working in the town for some time. Unfortunately, because of the position of the pipes in the roads it has not been possible for us to work together in the same location but, where we can, we are trying to avoid any unnecessary duplication. Where possible we will be following closely behind them so both pipe replacements can be carried out and then the road resurfaced.
‘In High Street we are planning to start work as soon as Severn Trent has finished. This will avoid clearing the street for just a couple of weeks before work starts again.’
The work is being carried out by the West Midlands Gas Alliance, a partnership between National Grid and leading utilities company Morgan Est. 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 further media information contact Jane Taylor. National Grid Communications on 0121 333 2640