Urgent gas main repair requires closure of Manchester street

Cadent, which manages the gas mains that run under Manchester, is today (22 Nov) closing a road in the M13 area of the city to fix a leak on a gas main.
 
The gas network needs to dig down to the pipe under Devonshire Street South to determine what’s caused a sudden increase in gas levels that people can smell in the area.
 
It suspects damage to the 12-inch cast iron pipe which runs under the carriageway and has needed to move in quickly to get it fixed.
 
Devonshire Street South is about to be closed to traffic, between Stockport Road and Tarleton Street, as there would not be a large enough safe space for the teams to work and vehicles to pass by.
 
A short diversion will be in place and signposted. Motorists can still use Stockport Road and all nearby roads, and are advised to expect potential knock-on effects and extra build-up of traffic as road users take these alternative routes. At this stage, it is unknown how long the road closure will be in place, but realistically it is likely to be several days.
 
A spokesman for Cadent said: “It’s not ideal to close a road, and it’s always something we try to avoid, but it’s necessary for us to move in quick and keep everyone safe. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience while we get the work done.”
 
There should be no impact on local gas supplies and the gas leak is not at levels that require any kind of evacuation. All local businesses remain open.