Mains attraction: ageing gas pipes in Hereford to be future-proofed

 
  • New gas pipe to be installed in Holme Lacy Road, Hereford
  • Temporary traffic lights and junction closures to keep the public safe
  • New pipe will keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses until the next century
 Ageing gas pipes in Hereford’s Holme Lacy Road, are set for an upgrade that will keep residents warm and safe into the next century.

In a seven-week project, starting on Monday (29 June), Herefordshire gas distributor Cadent will install the new gas mains, from the junction of Chestnut Drive to the junction of Dinedor Road.

The existing iron mains will be replaced with tough new plastic pipes that will last for at least 80 years.
To keep colleagues and road-users safe while the work is underway, temporary traffic lights and a junction closure will be in place.

Craig Horrocks, who heads up Cadent’s gas mains replacement programme in Herefordshire and the West Midlands, said: “With 83% of local residents relying on gas to heat their homes, it’s important that we keep investing in our pipe network so people can stay warm and safe for many decades to come.

“To keep colleagues and motorists safe we will need traffic management and we would ask people to bear with us as we complete this work.

“The safety of the public and colleagues is at the heart of what we do. Engineers work to the latest government guidance on Covid-19 and are taking extra safety precautions as required.”

The work will be carried out in five phases:

Phase one will start on 29 June will see the pipe being replaced in Holme Lacy Road, either side of the junction with Chestnut Drive. There will be temporary traffic lights at the Holme Lacy Road/Chestnut Drive/Hoarwithy Road roundabout.

During phase two, engineers will be working outside the shops in Holme Lacy Road, between Hoarwithy Road and Norton Avenue. Some parking bays will be closed while this phase is underway.

Phase three will take place near the junction of Holme Lacy Road and Hinton Avenue. This junction will be closed. Access to Hinton Avenue will be via Chestnut Drive and Birch Grove. There will also be temporary traffic lights.

During phase four, colleagues will be replacing the gas mains around the junction of Holme Lacy Road and Dinedor Avenue. During this phase there will be temporary traffic lights at this junction.

The final phase will take place in Dinedor Avenue. No traffic management will be needed.

Energy networks like Cadent have been recognised as critical industries throughout the Covid-19 outbreak. We make sure gas safely reaches homes, hospitals, and schools, as well as businesses, factories, and industry.
 
To keep the gas flowing safely, both now and in the future, we are carefully restarting our construction programme to replace ageing metal gas mains with tough new plastic ones under an initial three-month programme of works.
 
This programme is subject to permission from councils for us to work in the streets and to the evaluation of feedback from our customers. We will monitor and assess this programme throughout this initial three months.
 
The safety of our customers and colleagues has always been our absolute priority. Every year, we replace around one per cent of the 80,000 miles of underground mains we look after, as they reach the natural end of their safe working lives.
 
Some of these are old pipes and showing signs of age. We need to replace them so we can help remove the risk of gas leaks and ensure a safe and reliable gas supply. We’re changing the way we do that now so that it takes account of all guidelines associated with Covid-19.
 
If colleagues need to enter people’s homes, they will be wearing all the appropriate protective clothing to keep those living there safe. This will include disposable gloves, face masks and safety glasses. They will ask residents to stay in a separate room. They will work as efficiently as possible and wipe down any surfaces they have touched before leaving the property.
 
Colleagues will observe social distancing from the public and from each other. However, where work tasks require colleagues to work more closely together, contact will be kept to a minimum, they will wear the appropriate PPE for the task and follow good hygiene rules.
 
If anyone has any questions about this work, they should contact the customer service team on 0161 703 1010 / 1110.
 

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

Future of Gas: Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.

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Media contacts

Rebecca Wright

rebecca.wright1@cadentgas.com

07899 983792