- Leak identified on old underground cast iron gas main, right in the middle of Queens Drive’s junction with East Prescot Road
- Regular monitoring and ‘venting’ (narrow vent holes drilled into the road) have kept everything safe and under control
- Fixing this requires the closure of two of Queens Drive’s three lanes, through the Bank Holiday weekend and possibly early next week
A leak on a gas main which runs under the middle of one of Liverpool’s busiest road junctions will be fixed this weekend (starting 23 August).
Cadent, which manages the North West’s gas mains, will move in after rush-hour on Friday and work 24/7 throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.
The leak is on a section of the old cast iron main which sits directly under the big junction where Queens Drive meets East Prescot Road.
“It couldn’t be in a more challenging location”
– Lee Rowland, Cadent (see full quote later in the press release)
The repair plan, devised by Cadent in conjunction with Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police, has aimed to keep unavoidable disruption to a minimum.
Two hundred metres of this 12-inch-diameter gas main is being abandoned, after analysis of the local network confirmed alternative ways of ensuring supplies. Two phases of a three-phase plan have already taken place.
The final phase involves work in the junction itself. This will start on Friday (23 August), after the evening rush-hour.
To keep everyone safe – workers and motorists – two of Queens Drive’s three lanes will be closed.
Reminders will appear on road signs on the approaches to the area.
The engineers will work 24/7 – with ‘noisier’ work limited to daytime only (we are mindful this is also a residential area) – with the intention to be off-site and everything back to normal early next week.
Lee Rowland, head of operations for Cadent in the North West, said: “The location of this couldn’t be more challenging – the leak is coming from a section of the gas main that’s right under the middle of the junction.
“We’ve agreed to go in and fix it this weekend, over the weekend, at the request of Liverpool City Council. We’re trying to keep disruption to a minimum.
“If you know this area you will know there are other ways into and out of the city, so our advice is to use these, or budget extra time for your journeys. This includes traffic heading to Liverpool’s home game with Arsenal.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we get this work done – we know it is not ideal, but it is essential work to keep everyone safe.”
Gas supplies should not be affected. If you smell gas, do not dismiss it as connected to this work. Report it immediately to 0800 111 999*.
Did you know? More than 80% of Liverpool’s 205,000 households rely on gas for warmth in winter, as the fuel for their central heating systems.
Cadent is a gas distribution network, responsible for safely transporting gas to more than 11 million customers in North West England, the Midlands, East of England and North London, through more than 80,000 miles of pipes. It also provides the 24/7, year-round gas emergency service to the same regions.
*Calls to this number are recorded and may be monitored.