■ New gas pipes for Porthill Road, Stoke-on-Trent
■ Narrow lanes and temporary traffic lights during first phases of work
■ Work will keep local people safe and warm until the end of the century
Monday (12 February) will mark the start of a major gas mains upgrade in Stoke-on-Trent that will keep local people warm and safe for decades to come.
Local gas network Cadent will be renewing gas pipes in A5271 Porthill Road, Stoke. The work is expected to take until September.
Ageing metal gas mains will be replaced with tough, new plastic pipes that will last for at least 80 years. The project is part of a £65 million investment to renew 370kms of gas pipes in the West Midlands this year.
Steve Murray, who heads up Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme in the West Midlands, said: “We are investing in new gas pipes so local people can stay safe and warm until the end of the century. Porthill Road is one of our longest-running and most complex projects in the West Midlands.
“We will need to use temporary traffic lights and other traffic measures to keep everyone safe while we do the work. We appreciate Porthill Road is a major route into Stoke and we’ve been liaising with the local council to try and reduce the impact on traffic but we would urge people to bear with us.”
The following traffic measures will be in place during the first two phases of work:
Phase 1 (12 – 26 February)
The first stretch of work will take place in Porthill Road, near the junction with Longport Road.
- Narrow lane system in operation - southbound traffic will be pushed into the middle of the road.
- Traffic heading north will not be able to turn right into Longport Road. A clearly signed diversion route will be in place.
Phase 2 (26 February – 8 March)
- The narrow lane system will continue. Traffic heading southbound will be pushed into the middle of the road.
- Traffic heading northbound will not be able to turn right into Longport Road. A clearly signed diversion route will remain in place.
- There will be temporary traffic lights at the junctions of Porthill Road with Longshaw Street and Canal Street.
- Residents in Longshaw Street will not be able to exit onto Porthill Road. Instead they will be diverted via Avondale Street, Bradwell Street and Canal Street.
As the work progresses, there will be temporary traffic lights on Porthill Road and Station Street and road closures on Avondale Street, Longshaw Street and Bradwell Street. Further details will be provided as the project progresses.
Temporary traffic management measures will be suspended during August, while Stoke hosts the Weeping Window poppy installation.
Cadent employees and contractors carry identification. Residents should always ask to see it before letting anyone into their homes.
If anyone has any enquiries about this work they should contact Cadent’s customer services team
0161 703 1000. To find out more about how Cadent replaces gas mains and how that affects residents and businesses go to
www.bettergaspipes.co.uk