Upgrade for underground gas pipes in Knowsley Road, St Helens

Work started on Wednesday 9th May to upgrade and improve a hidden pipe which is essential for heating thousands of homes in St Helens.
 
Gas network Cadent says the ageing metal pipe under Knowsley Road must be replaced to reduce the risks of leaks and deliver a safe, reliable supply.
 
With excavations and heavy machinery in a busy area, the work has been planned closely with local authority highways officers to ensure a safe work area.
 
Traffic lights will manage the flow of vehicles around the work site and motorists are therefore advised to budget extra time to complete their journeys.
 
Over four months, 260 metres of metal gas main will be replaced with a new plastic pipe. This is a durable pipe, which will last until at least the end of the century.
 
Work started at the junction of Windsor Road and, in short stretches, will gradually move along Knowsley Road to the end point close to Douglas Street.
 
“This is one of our bigger sizes of mains pipe, so it’s a considerable engineering challenge,” said Steve Murray, who heads Cadent’s gas mains replacement project in the North West.
 
“We’re replacing a metal pipe that’s reached the natural end of its working life with a durable plastic pipe that will last for at least 80 years. It is essential work to ensure customers can be safe and warm in their homes for many years to come.
 
 “We work hard to minimise disruption, but our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and our workers.”
 
Letters will be sent to every property directed affected and customer teams will go door-to-door to discuss the work with residents and business owners. The customer team can also be contacted on 0161 703 1110. Residents may have to find alternative on-street parking, but access will be maintained to all businesses.
 
Cadent is the UK’s biggest gas network, ensuring gas reaches 11 million homes through a network of 131,000km of pipes. The Knowsley Road job is part of a country-wide programme to upgrade and improve metal mains pipes. Last year Cadent spent £77.5m upgrading 500km of gas pipes in the North West region alone.