- Work will keep gas flowing to local homes and businesses for decades
- Temporary traffic management needed while work is under way
Essential work starts on Monday (20 February) to revamp the gas mains in St Owen’s Street, Hereford, and keep gas flowing to homes and businesses until the end of the century.
National Grid is renewing more than half a kilometre of gas mains in St Owen’s Street, from Cantilupe Street to Ledbury Road. Engineers will also renew gas pipes in Turner Street. The work is expected to take up to 16 weeks. The existing iron mains are being replaced with tough new plastic pipes that will last for at least 80 years.
To keep engineers and road-users safe, temporary traffic management measures, including lane closures, road closures and temporary traffic lights will be needed.
Work will start at the junction with Cantilupe Street, working down to Green Street. While this phase is under way there will be a lane closure in St Owens Street between these two junctions.
Engineers will then renew the gas mains in the junction of St Owen’s Street and Bath Street. The existing traffic lights will be replaced with temporary traffic lights while staff are working in the junction. There will be no left turn into Mill Street for traffic travelling into Hereford.
Once this phase is complete, National Grid will then begin replacing the gas mains from Bath Street to Ledbury Road. Rolling temporary traffic lights will be used which will be moved down the road as each section of gas main is replaced.
During this period, there will also need to be some junction closures as work progresses down St Owen’s Street. The junctions with Grove Road, Turner Road and Grenfell Street will be closed as we work in each junction. Signed diversion routes will be in place.
National Grid will also be replacing the gas pipes in Turner Street. During this stage there will be no through route between St Owen’s Street and Central Avenue.
Stephen Murray, Head of Contract, said: “National Grid plays a vital role in keeping people warm. This essential work will secure safe and reliable gas supplies for local homes and businesses for decades to come. It is part of a nationwide programme to futureproof the nation’s gas network.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused but it is important that we replace these gas mains. Once the new plastic pipe is in the ground it will last for decades and require little or no maintenance. Every effort will be made to complete the work as quickly as possible and to minimise the disruption.”
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.