- Modernising gas pipes that have been in operation for 70 years
- An end to regular roadworks – after 30 repairs in last five years
- Upgrade will future-proof the network, ready to carry hydrogen
- Work begins 4 April and will continue over six months
Major works start 4 April to replace underground gas mains in Burscough.
Cadent, which manages the local gas network, is calling time on 2,000-metres of gas pipes that run beneath
Liverpool Road South and
Lordsgate Lane.
Dating to the Second World War era, they’re now showing signs of their age.
Cadent’s engineers have carried out repairs on this part of the network nearly 30 times in last five years, each time leading to significant traffic issues.
The solution is to upgrade the pipes.
Metallic gas mains like these are being upgraded as part of an £800m investment by Cadent in the North West over the next five years.
This programme is helping to get the network ready for a move away from fossil gases to hydrogen, which is essential for a ‘net zero’ future.
The frequency of repair work required on this pipe has led Cadent to bring forward its planned date for replacement.
As well as the big main in the road, the engineers will also replace the individual service pipes that carry gas into 160 properties.
The Cadent teams will ensure gas stays ON throughout the project. This is apart from one day – for those 160 properties only, as they are connected into the new pipes. Advance notice will be given and gas will be restored the same day it goes off.
Teams will move in to start the project on
4 April. It will take around
six months to complete.
The work will happen in short sections – which enables the roads to stay open and travel to continue in both directions, with traffic light controls. Please budget extra time for journeys (particularly at peak times), or consider using alternative routes.
Craig Horrocks, Head of Cadent’s North West Investment Planning Office, said: “Our job is to keep gas flowing to heat homes, schools, offices and many other buildings in the local area, as well as future-proof the network ready for hydrogen.
“This part of the network has operated for more than 70 years. We’ve become too frequent a visitor in recent years, with our teams carrying out essential repairs.
“This upgrade will bring an end to that, ensuring everyone gets a safe, reliable supply well into the future.
“We appreciate this means another period of disruption and will maintain a work area that ensures the road can stay open both ways, with traffic lights.”
The project involves replacing pipes under Lordsgate Lane, as well as Liverpool Road South (from the junction of Lordsgate Lane to near Meadowbrook / Springfield Close). In total, around 2,000 metres of pipe will be worked on – which is the same length as 20 full-sized football pitches.
Advance notice signs will be in situ soon and customer teams will be sending out information to properties in the immediate area around the works. Social media posts, as well as visits to schools and local businesses, are also happening.
Contacting Cadent about this project
Customers with questions about this work can contact the team by:
Phone: 0800 090 3071
Email:
CustomerCareNW@cadentgas.com
Online:
https://cadentgas.com/contact-us/contact-form-nw
If you smell gas
If you smell gas during this work, nearby or anywhere, always ring the national gas emergency service immediately, day or night, on 0800 111 999*. Do not delay, or assume it’s related to this work. It may not be and must be checked.
Cadent in the North West
Cadent operates four of the UK’s eight gas distribution networks – North West England, West Midlands, Eastern England and North London.
Its North West network stretches from the Lake District to Crewe and is home to 21,000 miles of distribution pipes (most of them underground) and hundreds of above ground installations. If placed end to end, that amount of pipes would stretch from Lancashire to Sydney, Australia, and back again.
Around £800m will be invested in the North West’s gas network over the next five years. This will maintain safe, secure supplies to homes, hospitals, schools, offices and other sites, as well as support the UK journey to net zero carbon emissions.
Backed by Cadent and many partners, the North West region is set to lead the way in a major shift from fossil gases to hydrogen. Producing only heat and water at point of use, hydrogen is key to the UK’s net zero future and is set to be introduced at volume in the North West during the 2020s (see
www.hynet.co.uk).