▪ National Grid to begin vital gas mains replacement project on January 4 2017
▪ A two week road closure will be needed in Gold Street along with a phased road closure in Woolmonger Street and phased lane closures in Horseshoe Street
▪ Project will help keep safe and reliable gas supplies flowing for cooking and heating
The New Year will see National Grid begin an essential project that will help ensure homes and businesses in Northampton keep on enjoying safe and reliable gas supplies.
On Wednesday 4 January 2017, National Grid will start replacing 180 metres of ageing gas mains in Horseshoe Street. The project is expected to take 13 weeks and will involve replacing the existing iron gas mains with tough, new, hard wearing plastic pipes that have a lifespan of at least 80 years.
To carry out the work safely phased lane closures will be needed in Horseshoe Street along with a road closure in Gold Street and a phased road closure in Woolmonger Street. However access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.
The Gold Street closure is due to start on February 6 2017 and is scheduled to last for two weeks.
The phased road closures in Woolmonger Street will be at the exit to St Peters Square from January 18 to 24 and at the entrance to St Peters Square between January 25 to 29.
All businesses will be open as usual. Access for motorists will be maintained via a signed diversion route. There will also be access to all main car parks.
National Grid Authorising Engineer Mark Allsop said: “This is a vital project to ensure that the residents and businesses in Northampton continue to enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come.
“We’re sorry for any inconvenience the work may cause and we’ll make every effort to minimise disruption and complete the work as quickly as possible.”
Gas engineers may need access to businesses on Horseshoe Street to replace service pipes (the pipes that take gas from the main in the road to individual properties). This work will involve temporarily switching off the gas supply to the properties involved. Those affected will be notified beforehand.
All National Grid engineers carry official identity cards, which people should ask to see before allowing them on their property.
To verify an engineer’s identity or for any enquiries about this work people should contact National Grid’s customer services team on 0800 096 5678.
To find out more about National Grid‘s gas mains replacement work go to www.bettergaspipes.co.uk.