• Ageing gas mains to be replaced in Bridge Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft
• Traffic management including town centre road closure, diversion and parking bay suspensions needed
• Work starts this month and will help ensure local community keep on enjoying safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating
Work on a major scheme to replace ageing gas mains in Oulton Broad will be starting later this month.
Existing metal gas mains in Bridge Road are nearing the end of their operational life and must be replaced to help ensure local residents keep on enjoying safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating.
The work is currently scheduled to start Monday 20 February and is planned for completion by Easter 2017.
The mains will be replaced between the library and the Shell service station in Bridge Road, passing by Oulton Broad North Railway Station.
Wherever possible new gas pipes are inserted into the old gas mains to minimise digging and associated congestion. However the size and position of the existing gas mains in Bridge Road means that engineers will need to dig trenches to lay most of the new pipes, with the only exception being the rail crossing, where pipes will be inserted.
To enable the work to be carried out safely and efficiently Bridge Road will become a temporary one way system. Northbound traffic (heading into Lowestoft) will be diverted via four alternative diversion routes. Southbound traffic (heading out of Lowestoft) will remain on Bridge Road, albeit on the opposite side of the road.
The four diversion routes are:
Diversion Starting from Bridge Road:
Bridge Road, Saltwater Way, Victoria Road, Waveney Drive, A12, Belvedere Road, Pier Terrace, Denmark Road, Peto Way, Normanston Drive.
Diversion Starting from Beccles Road/Cotmer Road:
Beccles Road, Cotmer Road, Elm Tree Road, Tom Crisp Way, Belvedere Road, Pier Terrace, Denmark Road, Peto Way, Normanston Drive.
Diversion Starting from Beccles Road/Castleton Avenue:
Beccles Road, Castleton Avenue, Tom Crisp Way, Belvedere Road, Pier Terrace, Denmark Road, Peto Way, Normanston Drive.
Diversion Starting from Commodore Road.
Commodore Road, Bridge Road, Saltwater Way, Victoria Road, Waveney Drive, A12- Belvedere Road, Pier Terrace, Denmark Road, Peto Way, Normanston Drive.
Some parking bays in the area will also need to be temporarily suspended.
Gas service pipes to properties in Holly Road and some additional properties in Harbour Road, Commodore Road and Mizpah Cottages will also need to be replaced. Those residents affected will be contacted about this.
As part of the project some work will also need to take place just across the junction from Harbour Road. This is a busy area for local deliveries, so to minimise disruption, the work has been arranged for weekends when minimal deliveries are taking place.
The project has also been carefully planned to avoid both the busy Christmas period and the summer tourist season to ensure any disruption is minimised.
The planning process has included consultation and discussion with Suffolk Highways.
Graham Huggett, Project Engineer said: “This essential work has been planned in close discussion with the local authorities to ensure it’s delivered with as little disruption as possible.”
“By doing the work outside of the area’s busy summer tourist season and the Christmas period we’re hoping that any inconvenience to people can be minimised.”
He added: “This new gas mains and service pipes will help ensure that people in the area keep on having a safe and reliable gas supply for cooking and heating.”
Residents are reminded they should ask to see official identification from any engineers seeking access to their properties. All project engineers carry official identity cards which people should ask to see before letting them in.
To verify the identity of an engineer or to get more information about this project people can call 0800 096 5678.
Information can also be found at www.bettergaspipes.co.uk