Ageing Suffolk gas main set for winter upgrade

• Essential work in Brandon will help keep residents connected to safe and reliable gas supplies for cooking and heating
• Part of £91million programme to upgrade ageing gas mains across the East of England
• Work expected to be completed ahead of Christmas

A project to upgrade an ageing gas main pipeline in Brandon, Suffolk, will get underway tomorrow (Tuesday 18 November).

The planned activity will involve the decommissioning of the current metallic gas pipes underneath Rattler’s Road – which measure 730 metres and were originally installed over 50 years ago - and installing tough new pipes which will last for decades, future proofing the local network.

The project is part of a £91m investment this year, which will see more than 300km of pipes upgraded in the East of England.

Engineers from Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, will be working along Rattler’s Road under a rolling road closure. There will also be multiway traffic lights in place at the junction of Bury Road.

The work will be carried out along Rattler’s Road in the following sections which are subject to change depending on site conditions:

• Section one – Lane closure in London Road with traffic lights. Work will continue along Rattler’s Road to the junction of The Orchard
• Section two – from The Orchard to Rowan Drive
• Section three – from Rowan Drive to Elizabeth Road
• Section four – from Elizabeth Road to Stuart Close (including the junction of Pinney Close)
• Section five – from Stuart Close to Firs Way
• Section six – from Firs Way to Walton Way (including the junction of Pinewood Drive)
• Section seven – from Walton Way to Bury Road. There will also be a lane closure on Bury Road with traffic lights being in operation

Following consultation with Suffolk County Council, Cadent has agreed to carry out this essential work over a four-and-a-half-week period from Tuesday 18 November until and Friday 19 December.

Cadent Project Manager, Dave Caswell, said: This part of the network has done an outstanding job for a long time, but it is now time for replacement work to take place so that we can continue to deliver gas to peoples' homes 24/7, 365 days a year.

These upgrades also have big environmental gains, as they reduce methane emissions and enable a move to more renewable gases like biomethane. This is essential for a cleaner future – the UK will need energy to come from a range of sources to meet demand and be sustainable.

We have worked with the local highways team, as well as local authorities to try our best to ensure that we minimise disruption, whilst we carry out these essential works.

While the work has been separated into sections, we will be working as efficiently as possible to complete the work in a timely manner. Whenever we start a new section, we will ensure that any diversions are updated while also ensuring residents have access to their homes.

I thank everybody for their patience as we take the measures needed to ensure our engineers can carry out these works as safely and as efficiently as possible.

Gas stays ON for the duration of work. The only interruption to supply will be to properties that take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced (in the immediate local area). Supply to these properties will be disconnected for a short while (it will be back on the same day it goes off), as the property gets connected into the new pipe. Advance notice will be given, and more information will be provided to these properties.

If you smell gas, always ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999*, day or night. Do not assume it is related to this work; it may not be and needs to be checked.