Project details
Start date: Monday 26th June 2023
Finish date: Late summer 2024
Traffic management: Each phase involves traffic management - including full road closures and temporary suspension of bus stops and parking spaces where required. This is in order for our team to complete their work safely and to protect members of the public throughout the duration of the scheme. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained but may require following a minor diversion. All traffic management will be agreed with council’s Streetworks team and Ipswich Buses before we start work.
Completed works
Phases 1&2: Works will take place from the Quayside (adjacent to Aurora), on Patteson Road, the east end of Cliff Road and John Street. There will be a road closure on Patteson Road with access for residents only. Road closures on parts of Cliff Road with access for residents via Toller Road off Holywells Road.
Phase 3a: Traffic management operation in Wykes Bishop Street with a road closure on John Street. Access for residents only for Maude Street and Anchor Street will be via Patterson Road.
Upcoming works
Enabling works (8-12 January 2024): Single lane closure on Coprolite Street.
Enabling works (8-12 January 2024): Partial width footpath closure with pedestrian access maintained outside Mehzan Restaurant on Duke Street.
Enabling works (15-19 January 2024): Partial width footpath closure with pedestrian access maintained at Sorrel Horse Mews on Grimwade Street.
Enabling works (15-24 January 2024): Short section of contraflow outside 81-83 Grimwade Street.
Phase 3b (15 January – 15 March 2024): Lane closure on Wykes Bishop Street
Phase 4a (1 February-15 March 2024): Bus lane closure on Duke’s Street from junction with Wykes Bishop Street to Pownall Road.
Phase 4b (4 March-31 May 2024): Directional lane closure on Duke Street from junction Pownall Road to junction Fore Street with southbound access only. Bus lane closure.
The following phases are scheduled but works dates and some traffic management arrangements are subject to confirmation
Phase 5: Lane closure from circa 132 to 107 Fore Street (Salvation Army) and traffic management in Neptune Square.
Phase 6: Lane closure on Fore Street from No 107 to junction with Salthouse Street. Road closure from 71/75 Fore Street to Junction of Star Lane.
Phase 7: Road closure from 60 to 49 Fore Street.
Phase 8: Possible lane or road closure (tbc) from 49 to 6 Fore Street.
Phase 9: Possible lane or road closure (tbc) from 9 to 43 Fore Street.
Phase 10: Possible lane or road closure (tbc) from 6 to 2 Fore Street.
Each phase involves traffic management - including full road closures and temporary suspension of bus stops and parking spaces where required. All traffic management will be agreed with council’s Streetworks team and Ipswich Buses before we start work.
Route of pipeline replacement works
If you have any immediate concerns you would like to discuss, you can call our customer care centre on at 0800 051 4431. We are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
You can also email us any time at info@communityrelations.co.uk
The project
What works will you be doing?
This work, involving replacing and upgrading ageing metal pipes with a more durable material, is essential to safeguarding the gas system – ensuring we continue to provide an efficient and reliable gas supply well into the future
Why does this work need to be completed in a specified timeframe?
In consultation and agreement with The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), one of the key drivers for completing the upgrade during the regulatory period 2021-2025 is part of a wider business strategy to secure our customers’ future energy demands.
When will definitive details around the start/end date of the works be given?
We will commence work on phase 1 and 2 of this project on 26 June 2023 in Quayside/Patteson Road area and John Street. Phases 3b and 4 are programmed for January-May 2024. Additional phases have been scheduled but are subject to confirmation. Our key focus will be engaging with you at every step of the way, keeping you informed of our progress. We are working towards a construction completion date in late summer 2024.
What are you doing to minimise inconvenience?
We are liaising closely with Ipswich Borough Council and expert consultants to plan our work. We will engage with affected stakeholders in advance to discuss our plans, so that we can deliver a scheme that considers the needs of local people and the environment.
Gas supply disruption
What are the implications of the works on gas supply disruption?
The majority of the works on the gas main will not impact the gas supply to the community as almost all the properties in the area are fed off the gas main by Independent Gas Transporters (IGT) and these will be kept live as part of our gas operations. However, we have identified limited number of properties where there may be some disruption and we may need access to homes and businesses. Where this is the case, our teams will issue advance notices and be on site to keep the community informed.
Environment
Will construction affect air quality in the local area – how will you monitor this?
We follow the requirements of the local authority set out in our planning conditions and government guidance relating to vehicle movements, cyclists, noise, pollution etc.
Construction
Who are you working with?
We are engaging across Ipswich Borough Council including local politicians, and officers in Housing and Communities, Maintenance and Contracts, Planning & Development and, of course, Highways and Environmental Health.
Most importantly, we’re engaging with the local communities that we are likely to impact. We will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders throughout the project.
During our maintenance works, we use experienced and qualified contractors to carry out work on our behalf. We manage our contractors and monitor their performance closely.
What hours would you be working?
Working hours are expected to be between 8am and 6pm on weekdays and 8am and 1pm on Saturdays (an hour either side of these times may be used for deliveries and setting up ready for works). If additional weekend or night working is necessary, we’ll agree this with the local authority, and write to local properties to let them know.
Would these works have any effect on local traffic?
Our traffic management plan has considered the local area, road network and speed limits and is designed around avoiding residential areas wherever possible. Our plan has been designed to minimise disruption whilst we’re working on our sites.
All heavy vehicle deliveries will be scheduled and routed to avoid queues on local roads. We’ll make a passing point for vehicles in the site compound and access road, and we’ll install traffic signage at the proposed site entrance to keep access clear at all times.
Traffic management has been agreed with the local authority and we will communicate with the local community about our plan for minimising traffic impacts.
What is the impact on access to local businesses and car parks?
We aim to maintain access to business frontages and car parks wherever practicable and will inform both businesses and residents in the area, in advance of the time periods when this will not be the case.
Do you need any sort of permission to do this work?
As an essential infrastructure provider, Cadent has permitted development rights for gas transporters under Part 15 Class A of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015.
We are committed to working closely with the council and the community throughout the works.