- Upgrade to main under Rossmore Road East – near junction 8, M53
- Part of nationwide, multi-million pound investment to upgrade older gas pipes
- Diversion expected to add five minutes to journey times
A gas main that helps heat thousands of homes in the Ellesmere Port area is about to be upgraded to ensure safe supplies for at least another 80 years.
Starting on Monday (14 Jan), and over six weeks, specialist engineering teams will replace 135 metres of an ageing metallic main with a new, long-lasting plastic one.
This pipe – which is 12 inches in diameter and is now over 50 years old – runs directly under Rossmore Road East, so a lane closure is necessary.
There will be a diversion route in place, which is expected to add around five minutes to journeys. On-site teams will keep this under regular monitoring.
Traffic heading to junction 8 of the M53 can still pass, while vehicles heading off junction 8 to use Rossmore Road East will instead need to come off at junction 9.
[For clarity, traffic can still leave the M53 at junction 8 if heading to the A5032 Merseyton Road]
This work forms part of a nationwide, multi-million pound investment by gas distribution networks to upgrade old metallic mains and ensure gas can be safely delivered ‘on demand’ to homes and businesses, well into the future.
Cadent, the North West’s gas network, invests around £77million to upgrade its older gas mains in the North West region, replacing around 500km of mains every year.
Craig Horrocks, who heads Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme in the North West, said: “We are upgrading an ageing gas main that helps keep thousands of properties warm, as well as providing gas to cook meals and for hot water.
“We’ll be undertaking major engineering so must make sure we maintain a safe work area for everyone, but we’re also trying hard not to disrupt everyday life too much.
“The extra journey time of five minutes is clearly not ideal, but we hope people understand it’s essential we complete this work.”
Gas supplies should not be interrupted and all businesses remain OPEN.
Teams will be on site to talk to and update residents and businesses. They are also available on 0161 703 1000.
Cadent is the UK’s biggest gas network, ensuring gas is delivered to more than 11 million customers from Cumbria to London. In its North West network, it has more than 21,000 miles of (mostly) underground pipes. Placed end to end, that amount would stretch from Ellesmere Port to Sydney, Australia, and back again.
More information at
www.bettergaspipes.co.uk