The UK’s largest gas distribution company, Cadent is replacing 2.5km of gas pipes along the B1310 - Aldermans Hill, Main Road and Southend Road, Hockley from 24 March to 12 December 2025.
Carl Williams, Head of Investment Delivery explained, “Over the years, there have been multiple repairs on these gas mains, resulting in extensive traffic management measures each time. These frequent repairs have significantly disrupted the highway and community.
After significant discussions with the local council and highways authority, we have developed this project to reduce the overall disruption.
While this project will temporarily affect the area, it is designed to eliminate the need for recurrent repairs, thereby reducing long-term traffic congestion and disruption.
Ultimately, this proactive approach will enhance the reliability of our gas network and ensure that we can keep our customers safe and warm.”
This work to upgrade ageing gas pipes will ensure the local community can continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply into the future for many decades to come.
Carl continues, “We are aware of the residents’ concerns about traffic management for this project.
We have already looked at measures to reduce this project. We have reduced the length of this project by ten weeks and are planning the most challenging pieces of work during the school holidays when traffic should be reduced. By using rolling temporary traffic lights we can keep traffic flowing.
We are only closing a few junctions at the roundabouts, ensuring we can cross them quickly and reducing the time we are in one specific area. We have also looked at the hours and number of days we will be working too. We will be working seven days a week from 7am-7pm, except at the Spa roundabout, where we have road closures and we have extended the hours from 6am-10pm. We will ensure our workforce are working the hours that we promise.
Working with Essex Council, we have tried to do all that we can to complete the work as safely and quickly as possible, giving people advanced notice of the work so they can plan their journeys.”
| Phase | Street Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | 58–38 Aldermans Hill |
| 2 | 38–14 Aldermans Hill |
| 3 | 14 Aldermans Hill – 110 Main Road |
| 4 | 110–92 Main Road |
| 5 | 92–84a Main Road |
| 6 | 84a–70 Main Road |
| 7 | 70–60 Main Road |
| 8 | 60–46b Main Road |
| 9 | 46b–36a Main Road |
| 10 | 36a–22 Main Road |
| 11 | 22 Main Road – 10 Warren House Spa Road closed at the junction of Southend Road and Main Road. Parking bays restricted outside shops. To be carried out within School Summer holidays |
| 12 | 10 Warren House Main Road – 58 Southend Road Woodlands Road closed at the junction of Southend Road and Main Road. Parking bays restricted outside shops. To be carried out within School Summer holidays |
| 13 | 58–44 Southend Road |
| 14 | 44–28 Southend Road |
| 15 | 28–18b Southend Road Great Eastern Road closed at the junction of Southend Road |
| 16 | 18b–4a Southend Road |
| 17 | 4a Southend Road – 276 Main Road Temporary traffic lights at the junction of Hockley Rise to the junction of Southend Road. Junction closure on Belchamps Way, no entrance from Hockley Rise, access for residents only from The Westerings. Continues into Phase 18. |
| 18 | 1 Hockley Rise – 18 Belchamps Way Hockley Rise closed at the junction of Southend Road. Road junction closure on Belchamps Way, no entrance from Hockley Rise, access for residents only from The Westerings. |
For updates and further information: cadentgas.com/Hockley
ENDS
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.
Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.
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