Essential upgrade of gas mains pipe in Bacup

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  • Upgrade of Bacup gas mains pipe to enable safe and reliable supply for 80+ years
  • Part of £77.5m investment in North West by gas network Cadent in 2017/18, to upgrade 500km of pipes
  • Mains pipe is underneath Market Street, so temporary traffic arrangements are needed to keep everyone safe
 
Work starts Monday (5 February) to upgrade an underground gas mains pipe in Bacup, Lancashire, keeping energy flowing in the town until the end of the century.
 
Local gas network Cadent is replacing just over 250 metres of the ageing metal main under Market Street with a tough, durable plastic pipe.
 
It’s part of a nationwide scheme to upgrade gas mains pipes, to ensure safe and reliable supplies for heating, cooking and powering business.
 
Steve Murray, who heads Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme, said: “The existing main under Market Street has now reached the natural end of its life. We need to replace it to ensure gas continues to arrive safely to the thousands of homes in the area which rely on it, to keep warm and cook meals.
 
“This new pipe will last upwards of 80 years.
 
“The gas pipe sits under Market Street, so we can’t avoid causing disruption during the 15 weeks it will take to complete this work. We’ve planned this job for many months and have agreed temporary traffic arrangements with Lancashire County Council to ensure we can work safely in the road and keep traffic moving.
 
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we carry out this essential work.”
 
Market Street itself will be reduced to one lane, with traffic lights controlling the flow of vehicles travelling each way. Vehicles will not be able to access Market Street from Bank Street, Bankside Lane, Maitland Street or Union Street, although access to these roads remain for residents. A signed diversion route, agreed with Lancashire County Council, will be in place and a map of that has been sent to all residents. All businesses remain open.
 
Letters have been sent to every house and property directly affected. The project’s customer team can also be contacted on 0161 703 1000.
 
The work is part of Cadent’s £77.5m investment to replace around 500 kilometres of gas mains in the North West this year, and part of a wider, nationwide project by the gas networks to upgrade mains pipes across the UK.
 
Cadent is the UK’s biggest gas network, ensuring gas reaches 11 million homes in the North West, the Midlands, Eastern England and parts of London.

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

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