Stockport: final phases of major gas works on Brinksway

• Engineers are replacing one of the town’s oldest pipes – it is 145 years old.
• 180 metres of new pipe will be inserted into the old one; and gas stays on.
• Traffic signals will remain, to ensure everyone’s safety, for four more weeks.

One of Stockport’s oldest working gas pipes – at 145 years old – is being replaced, during a major engineering project on one of the busiest roads in the town.

Cadent, which manages the local gas network, will insert 180 metres of new pipe inside the old one, which runs directly under one lane of Brinksway.

Engineers have decided to bring forward a planned replacement of the pipe.

Over recent months, Cadent has found the pipe’s condition is deteriorating, with multiple leaks found. This has required a set of traffic light-controlled roadworks, with one lane being taken up for the work, which includes a blind bend.

A decision was made last month to prepare the ground for complete replacement, and this will take place over the next four weeks.

Stockport-based supervisor Luke Henshall, who is managing the project for Cadent, said: “This is the most complex job I’ve been involved with in my 20 years at Cadent.

“When the first signs of leaks came in during the summer, we took immediate action to keep everyone safe and ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas to the homes, schools, offices and other buildings which this pipe helps distributes gas to.

“What we’re dealing with is a pipe that was installed in the late 1800s, and – put simply – while it is safe now, we can’t be assured of that for much longer.

“We can’t keep repairing it, which leads to disruption – like now – every time we visit. It’s time for us to replace it.”

Passers-by will have seen the teams preparing big open excavations, in readiness for the start next week (w/c 16 Sep) of a complex operation to weld together multiple sections of tough plastic pipe, before inserting these into and through the old pipe.

The gas remains on while this happens, so there should be no interruption to supply.

Luke said: “We know this is frustrating for motorists, and we do appreciate everyone’s patience.

“We are now about to start the final phases of work, which involves three weeks of welding and pipe insertion, and then around one more week to reinstate the road.”

Cadent maintains the North West’s 21,000-mile local gas network – an underground, largely unseen pipe system, which distributes gas to millions of homes, schools, hospitals, offices, and other buildings, as well as HGV fuel stations and industry.

The company also operates the 24/7, 365-day-a-year gas emergency service for the North West, as well as three other regions in England. Its engineers are ready to respond quickly, day and night, to reports of smells of gas, or damage to gas pipes, and to assist in multi-agency response to major incidents.

*If you smell gas, or notice damage to gas pipes, act immediately and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999, day or night. All calls are recorded and may be monitored.